A retirement plan for Cristiano Ronaldo has been teased as Saudi Pro League officials reportedly line up 50 big-name players to join CR7 in the Middle East before the day comes for him to hang up his boots. More high-profile additions, such as Mohamed Salah and Bruno Fernandes, will help the division to retain interest heading towards the 2034 World Cup.
Mohamed Salah may have made his long-awaited return to action for Liverpool on Wednesday, but it was Dominik Szoboszlai who stole the show as Arne Slot's side took a massive step towards automatic qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League with a massive 3-0 win in Marseille. While all eyes were on Salah on his first start for the Reds since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations - not to mention his stunning attack on Slot back in December - the Egyptian had a pretty poor game.
Arne Slot joked he would be losing his job at Liverpool to Xabi Alonso during a bizarre moment in a pre-match press conference ahead of his side's clash with Marseille in the Champions League. The Dutchman led the Reds to the Premier League title in his debut campaign at Anfield but things have been tougher in his second season. Alonso, meanwhile, recently left Real Madrid after struggling to implement his tactical ideology on the star-studded squad at the Bernabeu.
Liverpool have made a big decision on talisman Mohamed Salah ahead of Wednesday's Champions League tie in France against Marseille. The Egypt international is available for selection once again after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations. Salah's Egypt finished in fourth place at the tournament and the 33-year-old has now returned to the Merseyside club.
There are only three certainties in life: death, taxes and a dramatic Africa Cup of Nations. However, even by the tournament's extraordinary standards, the final of the 2025 edition was like nothing we've ever seen before - albeit not in a good way. In the 93rd minute of a tense but largely uneventful encounter in Rabat, Senegal had a goal from Ismaila Sarr very harshly disallowed for a perceived foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi beforehand. Just moments later, Morocco were awarded a penalty after an invention by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), who had spotted a minor tug on Brahim Diaz's shirt by El Hadji Malick Diouf.
There was heartache for Mohamed Salah who missed his shootout penalty as Egypt finished fourth at the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday. The Egyptian icon’s spot kick was saved after his side drew 0-0 draw in the third-place play-off against Nigeria, which the Super Eagles won 4-2 on penalties. Salah was one of two Egyptian players to miss his penalty alongside Omar Marmoush.
Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has hit out at Mohamed Salah after the Reds star suggested he had nothing left to prove in an explosive interview following Liverpool's 3-3 draw with Leeds United in December. The 33-year-old has spent the past month away at AFCON and Hamann says it might be best for player and club to part ways, slamming the Egyptian's comments that he doesn't want to 'fight every day' for his position at Anfield.
Liverpool are in talks with Mohamed Salah regarding a return to club action. The Egyptian superstar has been away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations since mid-December. A heartbreaking semi-final exit from that competition has been suffered against Senegal. The Pharaohs still have a third-place play-off to take in, after which their talismanic captain will be cleared to head back to England.
Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has told GOAL why the Reds could get rid of both Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk in the summer of 2026. Arne Slot is expected to be granted license to build for the future on Merseyside, with the reigning Premier League champions looking to “indulge” the likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz as “old top men” move on.
Liverpool will have to wait a little while longer to welcome Mohamed Salah back at Anfield despite Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations exit at the hands of Senegal. The Pharoahs suffered semi-final heartbreak in Morocco on Wednesday night as Salah's former Reds co-star Sadio Mane fired home a clinical late winner to send his country to the final.
This is particularly a big blow to Mohamed Salah's individual ambition of winning the international trophy for his country, which has remained an elusive mission in his career so far. For Mane and his teammates, the dream of winning the second AFCON trophy remains very much alive after progressing to the ultimate stage. The win means Senegal have stamped their authority on this fixture, as they have a decent record against the Pharaohs, where they have now won four of their last six games.
While Arne Slot seems to think that Liverpool's starting line-up is stronger without Mohamed Salah, the winger has been conspicuous by his absence in recent weeks, with the Reds struggling to score goals without their talisman. It's clear that they need their Egyptian King back at Anfield as quickly as possible. Salah, though, is desperate to extend his stay at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Indeed, he's not even attempting to hide just how much the tournament means to him.
Mohamed Salah has reached an international goal milestone quicker than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Liverpool superstar is currently on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt. He has helped to fire them into the semi-finals of that competition. During a last-eight showdown with the Ivory Coast, Salah found the target and reached 100 goal contributions for his country.
Michael Owen has explained to GOAL why he can see Mohamed Salah sticking around at Liverpool, with Premier League heavyweights and an Egyptian superstar appearing to have "kissed and made up". Owen believes that the Reds may have overseen a "stroke of genius" that brings a revitalised performer back into their ranks for the second half of the season.
Liverpool fans will have to wait a little longer to see Mohamed Salah back in the famous red jersey after the Egyptian icon scored for his country to extend their stay at the Africa Cup of Nations. Salah was on the scoresheet in the thrilling 3-1 victory over Benin and now face a quarter-final clash on Saturday, with the Reds due to face Premier League leaders Arsenal this week.
Jamie Carragher has predicted when Mohamed Salah will receive his grand send-off from Liverpool. The Egypt international took aim at the club before jetting off with Egypt to the Africa Cup of Nations, insisting they had thrown him under the bus, and Carragher has now put his neck on the line by attempting to predict when he will leave the club.
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