MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Mohamed Salah has been reinserted into Liverpool’s starting lineup. Arne Slot’s team won easily again in the Champions League, 3-0 in Marseille on Wednesday.
It was something of a return to normality for the English champions in a strangely irregular season amid turmoil with their Egyptian superstar, who was key to their 2019 European title.
Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to 13 games in the first game Salah started in that time, and the first opportunity after he returned from the African Cup of Nations.
Salah seemed a little off the pace with his teammates, didn’t score and missed horribly with a clear shot opportunity in the 83rd minute.
Still, Liverpool were already in control from Dominik Szoboszlai’s clever free kick in first-half stoppage time. Jeremie Frimpong forced an own goal from Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli in the 72nd minute with a pass aimed at Salah in the box. Cody Gakpo added a third in stoppage time.
Salah had a turbulent month in Liverpool — before heading to the African Cup of Nations in Morocco. The situation led many fans to question whether the 33-year-old’s remarkable nine-season stay at Anfield was over.
Slot had hinted on Tuesday that he would put Salah directly back into the team.
“Let’s look at the lineup tomorrow if you still think there is a problem,” he anticipated.
There had clearly been a problem after Slot left Salah out following a 4-1 home defeat against PSV Eindhoven on November 26, which capped a surprising series of defeats.
Salah had said in December that he felt “thrown to the lions” and that he was being made a scapegoat — a post-match explosion in Leeds after spending the entire match that his team tied 3-3 on the bench.
Slot had no choice but to leave Salah at home when Liverpool visited Inter Milan on December 9 for a difficult game that was won 1-0 with a late Szoboszlai penalty.
Salah is now back on the right side of Liverpool’s attack with little speculation he could leave. There are 11 days left before the transfer window closes in the Saudi league, which seemed the most likely destination.
The victory in Marseille lifted Liverpool to fourth place in the 36-team Champions League standings ahead of the final matchday next Wednesday.
Liverpool host Qarabag next and look set for a top-eight spot to advance directly to the last 16 in March.
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