Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, the 2017 and 2018 African Player of the Year, continues to dominate headlines over his ongoing fallout at Anfield…
Former Burnley striker Charlie Austin believes Mohamed Salah should still have a future at Liverpool once he returns from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.
Salah has been at the centre of a storm following his controversial post-match interview in which he criticised the club’s handling of his recent benching and hinted that someone within Liverpool no longer wants him.
His comments led to intense debate and even prompted Arne Slot to consider leaving him out of the squad for the Inter Milan clash.
What has happened between Salah and Liverpool?
Salah’s frustrations spilled out after Liverpool’s 3–3 draw with Leeds United when he admitted he was disappointed to have been benched for three straight matches.
He implied that promises made to him in the summer were broken and suggested that his relationship with Arne Slot had collapsed.
The forward went as far as saying he felt the club had “thrown him under the bus” which led to immediate backlash.
Despite training with the squad, Soccernet.ng, citing David Ornstein of The Athletic, suggests that Liverpool are leaning toward leaving Salah out of fixtures to stabilise the situation as he prepares to join Egypt for the tournament.
Multiple reports also indicate the former Chelsea forward may not feature again for the Reds before AFCON begins.
Charlie Austin: What the ex-Burnley forward said
The former Southampton striker believes Salah’s situation has escalated too quickly and would have been easier to manage later in the season.
Speaking on the saga, he said on Sky Sports News:
“Look, what we are dealing with at the moment — like I said earlier — I think it’s come too soon. I’d have probably envisioned this around mid-April. Then we got to the summer, they came to an agreement, and he moved on then”
He added that the summer would have been a more natural time for both parties to reach a decision on Salah’s long-term future.
Despite the tension, Austin insists there is no reason for Liverpool to exclude Salah once he returns from AFCON:
“After this time, I don’t see why he doesn’t play for Liverpool again after AFCON. He’s Liverpool’s talisman, he is Liverpool’s best player.”
The former striker, who scored 41 goals in 82 appearances for Burnley stressed Salah’s importance to the team:
“He needs to be involved in the club. Liverpool going on a poor run of form is solely on Salah, no surprise. But also, let’s be very clear: a lot of Liverpool players will be happy that Salah has taken the flak.” he added.
Watch what Burnley legend Charlie Austin said here:
“A lot of Liverpool players will be happy that Salah has taken the flak”
Charlie Austin believes that Mohamed Salah will play for Liverpool following AFCON and that the interview has overshadowed how the rest of the squad have performed this season pic.twitter.com/DEpT66kemR
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 11, 2025
Soccernet’s Verdict
Salah’s Liverpool future remains uncertain, and the timing could not be more crucial. The winter transfer window opens in few weeks, and Saudi Arabian clubs—long-time admirers of the Egyptian superstar—are expected to renew their push.
This could turn into a now or never moment for both the 20-time Premier League champions and Salah. If he does not mend his relationship with Arne Slot and the club, a January move to Saudi Arabia may become the most realistic outcome.
But if Salah returns from AFCON reintegrated and reconciled, he could yet finish the season as Liverpool’s go-to attacking leader.