Mohamed Salah could make his return from injury when Liverpool F.C. face Aston Villa F.C. in a crucial Premier League encounter on Friday, according to Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
The Egyptian forward has been sidelined since suffering a muscle injury during Liverpool’s match against Crystal Palace F.C. on 25 April. Salah was forced off after 59 minutes, prompting fears that his season — and potentially his Liverpool career — could already be over.
Reports surrounding the injury had suggested the 33-year-old might miss the remainder of the campaign, raising concerns among Liverpool supporters who were preparing to bid farewell to one of the club’s most influential players in recent history.
Salah previously confirmed that the current season would be his final campaign at Anfield after nine years with the club.
Slot confirms Salah available for limited role
Speaking during a press conference on Thursday, Slot revealed that the forward had made positive progress in his recovery and could feature against Aston Villa, although his involvement is expected to be limited.
“Salah has recovered well in recent days, and we hope he can help us against Aston Villa during his time on the pitch.”
The update represents a significant boost for Liverpool ahead of a decisive stage of the Premier League season.
Liverpool travel to Villa Park for the penultimate match of the campaign with both clubs level on 59 points. The Reds currently occupy fourth place in the table due to a superior goal difference, making the encounter potentially crucial in the battle for European qualification.
The possibility of Salah returning gives Liverpool additional attacking options at a time when every point could prove decisive.
Final Anfield farewell expected against Brentford
Although Slot suggested Salah’s minutes against Aston Villa may be managed carefully, the Egyptian is widely expected to play a more prominent role in Liverpool’s final match of the season against Brentford F.C. on 24 May.
That fixture is expected to mark Salah’s final appearance in a Liverpool shirt following a remarkable spell at the club.
Since arriving from AS Roma in the summer of 2017, Salah has established himself as one of Liverpool’s modern greats and one of the Premier League’s most prolific forwards.
During his time at Anfield, he helped Liverpool win two Premier League titles and played a major role in the club reclaiming the UEFA Champions League trophy.
He has also become one of Liverpool’s all-time leading goalscorers while cementing his place among the highest-scoring players in Premier League history.
Uncertainty remains over Salah’s future
Despite confirming his departure from Liverpool, Salah has not yet announced where he intends to continue his career.
Speculation over his next destination has continued throughout the season, with clubs from Saudi Arabia, the United States and Turkey all linked with the Egyptian international.
For now, however, the immediate focus remains on helping Liverpool finish the campaign strongly before bringing an end to one of the most successful chapters in the club’s recent history.
Supporters will now hope Salah can return in time to make a final contribution during the closing weeks of the season, beginning with Friday’s high-stakes encounter against Aston Villa.
