Really The End For Salah At Anfield?
So, is this really it? After 250 goals in 420 appearances, Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup and Club World Cup titles, plus numerous individual awards and records, is this the day Mohamed Salah says goodbye to Liverpool?
Will he even get the opportunity? Arne Slot’s side are unbeaten in the four games since Salah was dropped.
In his now infamous interview at Elland Road, Salah claimed he had asked his parents to join him at Anfield on Saturday (tomorrow) when he will bid farewell to Liverpool fans before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations.
He did not specify at the time whether it would be a permanent or a pre-tournament farewell, but battle lines in this unedifying episode have been drawn since then. On both sides.
Liverpool consider his removal from first-team selection temporary and in the best interests of all concerned. Salah, judging by his lonely training ground selfie posted on the day of Liverpool’s important Champions League win at Inter, sees it as another snub.
This is no way for a legendary Liverpool career to end but a reconciliation looks far off.
Perhaps another game out of the Liverpool spotlight and a month in Morocco will give Salah time to reconsider his stance.
*Liverpool v Brighton, Saturday
Chelsea Face An Awkward Customer
This season Chelsea have held Arsenal after going down to 10 men and have beaten Barcelona, Liverpool and Tottenham.
But they have also dropped points against Atalanta, Brentford, Bournemouth, Brighton, Leeds, Qarabag and Sunderland.
It is clear that winning against smaller sides remains a problem for Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea rise to the big occasion but inconsistency flares when they are expected to win. They do not like playing against deep defences – Maresca has often reacted with dismay when opponents switch to a back five to counter his carefully formulated plans – and can be forgiven if they are edgy about hosting Everton on Saturday.
David Moyes’s side have just recorded clean sheets at Bournemouth and Manchester United. They will back themselves to neutralise Chelsea’s attacking talents.
*Chelsea v Everton, Saturday.
Man U Improving But Still Lopsided
Manchester United have lost just one of their last nine Premier League games and equally encouraging is the fact that Ruben Amorim’s men have grabbed four goals twice, 15 matches into the campaign.
Last season’s 4-0 home win over Everton was the sole time this occurred in the league in 2024-25, while Monday’s 4-1 dismantling of Wolves at Molineux followed the 4-2 victory over Brighton at Old Trafford in October.
Last season’s dismal goal tally of 44 will surely be overtaken. Twenty-six is the current count but, if Bournemouth want a rosier augury, the 22 conceded show how United’s defence is still malfunctioning.
*Man U v Bournemouth.
Arsenal’s Jesus Hoping For Christmas Cheer
Gabriel Jesus is confident he can recapture his best form after recovering from the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that sidelined him for almost a year.
The Brazil striker came on as a substitute in Arsenal’s 3-0 win at Club Brugge on Wednesday night and will be hoping for more minutes when Mikel Arteta’s side face rock-bottom Wolves tomorrow.
“One hundred per cent,” said the 28-year-old when asked whether the best is still to come from him. “I’m a different guy when I have a smile on my face. I’m 100% sure, and then obviously now I’m more experienced, now I had 11 months of doubting, of stepping back and watching everything around me; that has helped me a lot. I know if I have the chance I am going to go there and do my best to help the team, like everyone else here.”
*Arsenal v Wolves, Saturday.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Salah…Last clap for Liverpool?
