Yesterday morning, as if part of an unchanging routine, Mohamed Salah perched at the edge of his bed, maintaining a straight posture with his eyes gently closed. This moment of calm is just one of many daily habits that have helped him remain at the pinnacle of his sport at the age of 33.

Part of Salah’s success lies in his mental preparation. He often visualizes himself in various positions on the football field, contemplating how he might seize the next scoring opportunity—whether with his signature left-footed curl or a powerful shot aimed at the near post to outwit the goalkeeper.

Inspired by the legendary Olympian Michael Phelps, Salah has embraced visualization as a tool for success. He believes that he has foreseen 90 percent of his 390 career goals before they materialized. More than just a Premier League icon or Africa’s finest footballer, Salah has become a visionary in his own right.

Recently, Salah faced a pivotal moment in his illustrious career. The outcome would dictate whether he would be welcomed back into the fold or sidelined. His justified confidence, bordering on arrogance, could have led to his exclusion from the squad if not managed delicately. Yet, it seems his return was negotiated successfully.

In the end, a handshake sealed his place in the lineup to face Brighton at Anfield on Saturday. This temporary peace echoes the famous Christmas truce of 1914, where opposing soldiers briefly laid down their arms. However, much like that historic ceasefire, this reconciliation might not signal the conclusion of tensions.

In the end, there was a handshake between Arne Slot and his star man, and Mohamed Salah will be in the squad to face Brighton at Anfield on Saturday

This was as big a moment as any Salah has faced on the pitch over his glittering career

It could be a giant step in the right direction of repairing a fractious relationship that threatened to plunge the Premier League champions into a civil war. It has already split the fanbase in half over whose side to take.

Now both parties deserve respect. Some players would have refused to swallow their pride and stick by their words, while some managers would have been too authoritarian to even entertain the possibility of an apology.

It was hardly as though Slot waltzed into the room singing Take That’s Back for Good and, likewise, the Egyptian was not down on his knees begging for forgiveness.

But a truce – temporary or permanent – is momentous and a potential turning point in the Reds’ season.

But it must be noted that there is still a somewhat hostile situation between player and club. It can be parked for now but serious conversations will still take place while Salah is away at the Africa Cup of Nations in the coming weeks.

There have been hints that the forward’s frustrations run deeper than the manager.

Daily Mail Sport has spent this week talking to sources from around the globe in Liverpool, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the US and Milan, where the Salah-less Reds recorded a huge win, to try to gauge what may happen next in this saga.

There have been hints that the forward’s frustrations run deeper than the manager

There was some relief for Slot this week as his Salah-less side won 1-0 at Inter Milan in the Champions League

It can be reported that:

• Liverpool have zero intention of selling Salah in January and remain committed to resolving the situation (Friday was a huge step in the right direction there) especially given he signed a new deal worth more than £400,000 a week a matter of months ago. 

• Salah loves Liverpool and believes the English way of life suits him and his family including his young daughters, who are settled. But he would not be totally against a move to Saudi Arabia and has never firmly ruled it out since they first tried in 2023.

• Saudi Arabian clubs are confident of landing Salah SHOULD he still want to leave Liverpool, and think they will need to pay close towards £100million to do so. This could also occur in the summer if not January.

• American sides, including Egyptian-owned San Diego and Chicago Fire, have weighed up whether to push for a marquee signing ahead of the upcoming North American World Cup – but believe the financial package will most likely price them out.

• Egypt manager Hossam Hassan had a lengthy phone call with Salah this week, according to sources close to the 177-cap former player, and the reaction in the north African nation is ‘more intense than you would believe’.

• Most of the Liverpool dressing room backs Slot and simultaneously adores the club legend Salah. Senior figures have urged them to not pick sides and do only what is best for the team’s success.

American sides, including Egyptian-owned San Diego, have weighed up whether to push for a marquee signing ahead of the upcoming North American World Cup

San Diego’s Egyptian owner Mohamed Mansour could swoop to sign his nation’s biggest star

Slot believes this has been one of the toughest episodes of his career, perhaps only rivalled by the time he was called a ‘snake’ and ‘Nazi’ in the streets for going behind the backs of former club AZ Alkmaar to talk to Feyenoord, who he later joined.

Because of that, the boss now prefers to live outside of the city he works in, which was the case during his time in Rotterdam. It keeps him separated from drama but when he landed back from Milan on Wednesday afternoon – the first time of rest all week – he probably finally had time to digest what had happened.

‘I can say I am definitely not enjoying this situation,’ he said yesterday. ‘It’s not like I’m happy we are in this situation. We have won the league together and he (Salah) has done so much for the club.’

It was the week that shook Liverpool and everyone involved. Even if he plays against Brighton, it is still fair to say his future is up in the air. Liverpool maintain a stance that Salah only signed a new contract, worth in excess of £400,000 a week, months ago and expect him to see that out until it expires in 18 months’ time. They have no plans to sell him as they believe the issue can be resolved. They retain full backing of Slot.

They believe any talk of a ‘farewell’ at Anfield on Saturday was silly. Why would a club plan a special celebration for someone they always thought they would keep? It is the first rule of negotiation: do not let it be known that your hand is weak. Doing so would reduce his price-tag.

The word from sources in the Middle East this week was that the Saudis think Salah is realistically worth around £100m, the fee they were ready to pay for Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes in the summer.

Al Hilal (of the PIF stable), Al Qadisah (by the state-owned energy giant Aramco) and new club Neom are all understood to be interested should Liverpool, who rejected a £150m offer from Al Ittihad in 2023, give any encouragement that a deal could yet be done.

Al Hilal, who can boast the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly (centre) and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (right) among their ranks, are interested in a move if Salah does wish to leave

So are Al Qadsiah, who are backed by Aramco and have begun to stockpile foreign stars of their own

It is worth saying that absolutely zero encouragement has happened. At the time of writing, they are waiting to see if peace can be brokered fully before making any approach. ‘Difficult’ was how one source described the Saudi situation but a deal could be done if Salah shows willingness.

Saudi Pro League chief executive Omar Mugharbel told a summit in Riyadh this week: ‘Mohamed Salah is welcome in the Saudi League, but it is the clubs that are responsible for negotiating with players. For sure Salah is one of them (a target).’

Over in the States, MLS sides San Diego and Chicago Fire also hold interest, but the expected financial package required would likely rule them out. David Beckham and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami are not in the conversation.

Former US international Alexi Lalas tells us: ‘Given his talent and popularity, Salah will have plenty of suitors in MLS. There is a logical connection with Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour owning San Diego FC and other MLS teams would consider it a marquee signing.’

After Brighton, Salah will fly out to Cairo for a pre-Africa Cup of Nations training camp. Egypt play Nigeria on Tuesday in a practice match at the national stadium and the forward is in contention to play.

‘The reaction here is even more intense than you might imagine,’ says Ismael Mahmoud, a trusted journalist based in Egypt. ‘Most Egyptians became Liverpool fans only because of Mo, so they simply cannot accept seeing their hero treated this way. For me and for the Egyptian fans, and I think even for Salah himself, Slot appears to be weak-minded.’

Former Egypt captain Mohamed Omar agrees: ‘The reaction is a strong emotional response towards Mohamed, the son of Egypt and an icon of Egypt and the world. The Arab world supports Mohamed. It is entirely illogical to attack him.’

TV broadcaster Mohamed Fouad adds: ‘All the Egyptians are astonished. There he has carved his name in gold with fans, management. I don’t believe Salah’s ambition is outside of England or Liverpool – or he would have taken that choice two years ago.’

Egypt boss Hossam Hassan, who has not always had a watertight relationship with Salah, spoke at length with his star man on the phone this week

Salah has still yet to win the Africa Cup of Nations, losing in the final in 2017 and here in 2021

It is understood national team boss Hossam Hassan, who has not always had a watertight relationship with Salah, spoke at length with his star man on the phone this week. We are told many team-mates, like Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush, have also reached out.

Fans believe an emotionally charged Salah can only help their AFCON campaign where Egypt are based in the coastal city of Agadir, Morocco. The Pharaohs have won the tournament seven times but Salah, their greatest player of all time, is yet to do so, losing the final in 2017 and 2021.

For all the bluster in Saudi Arabia, Egypt or America, only one place truly mattered and that was Slot’s office upstairs at the AXA Training Centre on Friday morning. Would Salah apologies?

Slot appeared to throw Salah a public olive branch before the meeting in his press conference when he said, rather diplomatically: ‘I have no reasons not wanting him to stay, if that is a little bit of an answer.’

Later, in a breakout section reserved for newspaper journalists, Slot was asked if he could sense weakness in managers after he had insisted earlier in the week that he was not weak. ‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘But you don’t have to show strength or weakness when it doesn’t help the team.

‘It would not be smart to be like, “Oh I am so strong and I am not afraid to take big decisions” if that doesn’t help the team. It is not my idea to show I can take, even if it was a strong decision or a hard or difficult one.’

It has been a long week for Slot and he will take solace in knowing that, after the game against Brighton, the Reds have seven days until their next assignment. Though it may not please fans or the EFL, the head coach is delighted to be out of the Carabao Cup.

He did politely refuse to answer a question asking how he felt at 8.15pm at Elland Road on Saturday last week when he was told what Salah had done and said.

Slot politely refused to answer a question asking how he felt at 8.15pm at Elland Road on Saturday last week when he was told what Salah had done and said

Both Salah and Slot may have done some things they regret in this saga – one of them more publicly – but both emerge with dignity and respect now

Read into that what you will but no one could blame the boss for wanting to explode with rage, especially as his side had just conceded a late goal to drop two more points.

Now Slot is somewhat calmer. Both him and Salah may have done some things they regret in this saga – one of them more publicly – but both emerge with dignity and respect now. How long that lasts, we will see.

Salah himself spent Thursday, his day off, in London. He is often there enjoying days with the family or exhibitions at museums including one Egyptian pop-up recently. But he seems most happy in Liverpool, either at his homely mansion or at Anfield.

Will he really leave that life behind now?