Devastating injury news emerging from Anfield could ultimately prove to be a lifeline for Mohamed Salah’s future at Liverpool

Mohamed Salah’s return to Liverpool after AFCON could prove decisive for his long-term future at the club, especially with a major setback to one of his teammates now shaping the situation.

After knocking out defending champions Ivory Coast, Salah’s Egypt have reached the AFCON semi-finals, where they will meet Sadio Mané’s Senegal. During his absence, Liverpool have shown they can cope without him, leading some to question whether his return will actually benefit the team.

However, Salah may now be more important than ever following the season-ending injury to Conor Bradley. Arne Slot has experimented with several attacking setups without Salah, most recently favouring Jeremie Frimpong to provide width on the right.

That plan may need revisiting after Bradley was ruled out for the rest of the campaign — a crushing blow not only for Liverpool, but also for Northern Ireland, who must face Italy in the World Cup play-offs without their most reliable player.

Bradley’s absence also reopens the debate over Liverpool’s best options at right-back. Frimpong appears the natural first choice, which could clear a straightforward path for Salah to return to the starting XI, as his main competition may now be required in a deeper role.

Slot’s view of Salah following last month’s off-field drama remains unclear, but with Bradley sidelined, it may no longer be a decisive factor. With multiple trophies still in sight, it seems unlikely Salah will be left on the bench as frequently as he was before AFCON.

If he can bring his international form back to Anfield, there may still be hope for a revival in his Liverpool career.

Liverpool’s defensive problems deepen

Liverpool’s defensive misfortune has been relentless this season. The club failed to land Marc Guéhi in the summer, new signing Giovanni Leoni was injured almost immediately, and now Bradley has joined him on the treatment table.

Although Liverpool were not planning significant January spending, this latest setback could force a rethink. Frimpong is expected to start most matches at right-back, with Joe Gomez also providing cover — but whether that is sufficient for a team competing on four fronts remains highly questionable.