Mohamed Salah is enduring the longest goal drought of his Premier League career despite re-establishing himself in the Liverpool starting line-up under Arne Slot.
The Egypt captain was one of the first players to depart the dressing room following Sunday’s victory at Nottingham Forest.
When approached for comment, the forward politely declined with a smile before heading to the team bus, cutting a relaxed figure despite the speculation surrounding him.
Tension and reconciliation
The scene marked a stark contrast to his explosive interview at Elland Road two months ago.
Salah had previously claimed the club “threw him under the bus” after being omitted from the starting XI for three consecutive matches.
Sources indicate the 33-year-old considered releasing a social media statement but chose to speak out publicly due to the depth of his frustration.
“I don’t know why but it seems to me that someone doesn’t want me in the club,” he stated at the time.
However, the situation appears to have de-escalated significantly since that outburst.
The former Roma winger apologised to his team-mates and shook hands with manager Arne Slot, who insisted the matter was resolved.
Return to the fold
Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in January, Salah has started every game for the Reds.
While the club’s injury crisis has necessitated his inclusion, his application has drawn praise from his head coach.
Following a goal and an assist in the FA Cup victory over Brighton, Slot highlighted the attacker’s work ethic.
“What I like the most is he is scoring goals [which you] almost expect – but he also helps the team a lot defensively and that is something very positive,” said Slot.
This defensive improvement is backed by data, showing an increase in possession recovery compared to the previous campaign.
A worrying statistical drop-off
Despite his reintroduction to the side, the prolific forward is currently navigating uncharted waters regarding his output.
Salah has registered two goals and four assists in eight games across all competitions since his return from international duty.
However, he has not found the net in the Premier League since November.
Failure to score against West Ham at Anfield on Saturday would extend his barren run to 10 top-flight matches.
This represents the longest goal drought of his distinguished Premier League career.
“He sets his own standards and those are so, so high that the moment he doesn’t score for a few games, people are immediately surprised. That’s probably the biggest compliment he can get,” Slot admitted on Friday.
The numbers illustrate a clear decline, with his average goal and assist contribution dropping to 0.56 per game this season, down from 1.25 last term.
Jeremie Frimpong is set to return for Liverpool against West Ham United this weekend, offering relief to Arne Slot after an injury crisis that has seen seven different players used at right-back this season.
A difficult transition
The Netherlands international is poised to feature on Saturday after recovering from his latest fitness setback.
Since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen, the defender has suffered three separate hamstring injuries.
Arne Slot has previously suggested the intensity of the Premier League has contributed to the player’s difficult adjustment period.
The stop-start nature of his Anfield career mirrors the issues faced by Trent Alexander-Arnold following his summer move to Real Madrid.
The curse of the seven right-backs
Liverpool have faced unprecedented instability in defense throughout the current campaign.
Slot has been forced to utilize seven different players in the right-back position due to a cascade of injuries.
Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery.
Experienced defender Joe Gomez has also seen his playing time rationed to prevent recurring fitness issues.
The crisis deepened when Wataru Endo sustained a foot injury while deputising in the back four, ruling him out for the foreseeable future.
Midfield balance disrupted
The defensive shortage has had significant knock-on effects for the team’s structure further forward.
Dominik Szoboszlai has frequently been moved from his preferred midfield role to cover the vacant defensive slot.
Curtis Jones has also been deployed as a makeshift solution, while Calvin Ramsay has been restricted to cup appearances.
The club attempted to address the issue late in the winter window by targeting Feyenoord’s Lutsharel Geertruida.
However, the loan move for the Dutchman failed to materialise.
Slot will hope Frimpong’s return brings much-needed consistency to a position that has defined Liverpool’s season for the wrong reasons.
Tottenham interim boss Igor Tudor has admitted his side are physically "not in an amazing position" as they prepare for a crucial week in their fight against relegation.
Spurs sit just four points above the Premier League drop zone and are still searching for their first league victory of 2026.
The north Londoners face Fulham this weekend in a match viewed as must-win, but their preparations have been hampered by a debilitating injury list.
Injury crisis hampers high-pressing style
The Croatian head coach is attempting to implement a high-intensity pressing system but concedes his depleted squad is struggling to adapt.
Despite the return of defenders Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso, nine first-team players remain unavailable due to injury or suspension.
"Physically, I believe, we are not in an amazing situation," said Tudor.
"They have played lots of games in the last period without lots of players available and it meant the physical condition of the team has dropped down."
Tudor emphasised the need to utilise training time to restore energy levels within the group.
"We need to use this period where we don’t play the games to put some petrol in the engine so the engine starts to work better."
Tudor tight-lipped on medical issues
The 47-year-old hinted at frustration regarding the club’s fitness crisis but refused to be drawn into specific criticism of the situation.
"I have my thoughts, I have opinions here, but I keep them to myself," he stated.
With the squad threadbare, inexperienced players are being forced to manage the significant mental and physical load of a survival battle.
The former Marseille boss believes this pressure represents a unique challenge for his younger stars to mature quickly.
"Some players are still young. They were brought here to help and now maybe they are in a moment where they need to resolve the problems," Tudor explained.
"If you have too many of these players because of the amount of injuries who are playing together in the squad, it does create some problems, but it is also an opportunity and a challenge to grow fast."
Tottenham must now navigate a pivotal run of fixtures, starting with Fulham followed by Crystal Palace, as they look to secure their Premier League status.
Wolves 1-0 Aston Villa
Wolves secured a dramatic victory over Midlands rivals Aston Villa after goalkeeper Jose Sa produced a stunning save deep into stoppage time to deny Amadou Onana.
Gary O’Neil’s side claimed all three points at Molineux in a tense Premier League encounter.
The hosts looked set to concede a heartbreaking equaliser in the 97th minute when the ball fell to the Belgian midfielder inside the box.
Onana connected cleanly with the strike, which appeared destined to snatch a point for Unai Emery’s visitors.
However, the Portuguese shot-stopper reacted instinctively to tip the effort away and preserve the clean sheet.
Derby drama at Molineux
It was a moment of redemption for Sa, who ensured the narrow 1-0 lead remained intact until the final whistle.
Aston Villa had pushed forward relentlessly in the closing stages searching for a breakthrough against their local rivals.
Morgan Rogers had been influential for the visitors throughout the contest, but they could not find a way past the resolute home defence.
The victory provides a significant boost for the Molineux club as they look to climb the league standings.
Villa frustrated in stoppage time
For the Villans, the defeat represents a missed opportunity to consolidate their position in the hunt for European places.
Emery’s side dominated possession in the latter stages but lacked the clinical edge required to beat Sa.
The heroic intervention from the Wolves number one will likely be remembered as one of the defining moments of the season for the home faithful.
Football lawmakers are discussing the introduction of a ‘Vinicius Law’ to punish players who cover their mouths to conceal abuse following a high-profile incident involving the Real Madrid winger.
Proposing a deterrent against concealed language
The International Football Association Board (Ifab) raised the concept during a technical meeting in Wales on Friday.
This potential deterrent follows an investigation into Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni for alleged racial abuse directed at Vinicius Junior.
Prestianni appeared to shield his mouth while addressing the Brazilian forward during a Champions League fixture last week.
While the Argentine winger vehemently denies using racist language, the precise words exchanged remain disputed due to the obstruction.
British associations within Ifab reportedly showed receptiveness to the idea, dubbed by insiders as "Vinicius’ Law".
Discussions remain in the preliminary stages, with the practicalities of enforcing such a rule requiring careful consideration before any formal proposal.
Background to the Lisbon incident
The alleged abuse occurred during Real Madrid’s victory over Benfica in Lisbon on 17 February.
Play was halted for 10 minutes in line with Uefa regulations after the 25-year-old reported the incident to referee Francois Letexier.
Despite the disruption, the forward completed the match after earlier scoring a wonderful individual strike to give his side the lead.
Vinicius became visibly upset following his goal celebration and immediately informed the match official.
"Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are."
The Brazil international posted the statement on Instagram following the encounter.
Uefa sanctions and wider reforms
Uefa imposed a provisional sanction on Prestianni on Monday, ruling him out of the return leg in Madrid.
The Portuguese club had appealed against the decision prior to the fixture.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side secured their place in the last 16 with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday, sealing a 3-1 aggregate success.
Separately, Fifa officials have discussed increasing penalties from yellow to red cards for players walking off the pitch.
This suggestion follows chaotic scenes at the conclusion of the recent Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco.
Former England manager Gareth Southgate has ruled out becoming the next Manchester United boss, stating he currently holds “no passion” for a return to Premier League management.
The 55-year-old had been heavily linked with the vacancy at Old Trafford following the recent dismissal of Ruben Amorim.
Speculation intensified after his long-time assistant Steve Holland joined Michael Carrick’s coaching staff at the club earlier this week.
However, the ex-Three Lions chief has firmly dismissed the possibility of a reunion in the dugout.
‘Spoiled’ by England role
Southgate has not held a managerial position since departing the national team setup in July 2024 following the defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
He believes his eight-year tenure in international football offered a unique environment that club management cannot currently match.
“I’ve got no passion to just go and manage in the Premier League,” he told The Football Boardroom podcast.
“I did that at 35, I finished 11th, 12th. Who is in those positions now, probably Bournemouth, Brighton?”
The former Middlesbrough manager feels the autonomy he enjoyed with the FA set a high benchmark.
“I’ve had one of the biggest jobs in world football so I’ve been spoiled. Huge nights, working with outstanding players. No owner interfering.”
Baggage and big clubs
Southgate acknowledged that his perception among supporters makes him a “complicated appointment” for elite domestic sides.
Despite leading his country to back-to-back European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final, he feels his record is often scrutinised unfairly regarding silverware.
“The bit that, externally, people are saying is, ‘well, he didn’t win’. So how do you prove that you can win? You’ve got to go to one of those big clubs,” he explained.
“Now we know those big clubs… do I think I could have done the job that some people who have been in those clubs recently have done? Could I do better? I think I could.”
“But we’ve talked about the baggage that comes with me as an appointment if you’re an owner. And there’s a reality around that, I can understand what that noise is.”
Future away from the dugout
Carrick is currently leading United on an interim basis until the end of the season.
While Holland has returned to coaching to assist the former midfielder, Southgate confirmed he is not actively seeking a role.
“I don’t want to go and manage a different national team. Club? It’s honestly not what I’m looking to do,” he added.
“Now, two years after leaving England, I’m not actively looking for a role in coaching.”
Arsenal will look to maintain their Premier League title momentum when they host struggling London rivals Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s side enter the contest fresh from a resounding 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby.
That result served as an emphatic statement of intent in their quest for a long-awaited league trophy.
Gunners aiming for consistency
Momentum is firmly with the hosts following their dominant display against Spurs.
Arteta will demand the same intensity, structure, and movement that saw his team dismantle their arch-rivals last weekend.
Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres were instrumental in that victory and will be expected to deliver a similar performance in front of the home crowd.
The Gunners have already faced the Blues three times this season, winning twice and drawing once across all competitions.
Chelsea seeking defensive answers
In contrast to their opponents, the visitors arrive in north London searching for stability under Liam Rosenior.
The Blues dropped points at home to relegation-threatened Burnley last weekend and recently squandered a two-goal lead against Leeds United.
Defensive frailties remain a primary concern, with the west London club keeping just one clean sheet in their last 11 league matches.
Wesley Fofana is suspended for the trip, forcing further changes to a backline that has struggled to find cohesion.
Tactical dilemmas for Rosenior
The Chelsea manager faces a significant selection headache regarding the positioning of Cole Palmer.
Recent decisions to deploy the England international wide to accommodate Enzo Fernandez centrally have notably limited Palmer’s influence.
History is also heavily weighted against the visitors, who have failed to beat Arsenal in their last 11 Premier League meetings.
With the hosts chasing the title and Chelsea struggling for form, Arteta’s men are firm favourites to extend that unbeaten run.
Mikel Arteta believes Eberechi Eze has changed his behaviour “dramatically” for the better as he adapts to the demands of playing for Arsenal.
The England international has experienced a fluctuating debut campaign following his £67.5m move from Crystal Palace last summer.
Despite struggling for consistency, the playmaker has established himself as a hero in the north London derby, scoring five goals in two matches against Tottenham.
Eze netted a hat-trick at the Emirates in November and secured a brace during last weekend’s commanding 4-1 away victory.
Building connections
Between those two standout performances against Spurs, the 27-year-old failed to register a single shot on target in the Premier League.
However, Arteta is confident that the foundations are being laid for the midfielder to deliver on a regular basis.
“To understand him, you have to understand how he connects with others players,” said the Arsenal manager ahead of Sunday’s match against Chelsea.
“What are the best connections that we can build in and around him, the spaces he’s more comfortable to use.”
“There are certain behaviours he’s changed dramatically into really positive things.”
“At the end, you don’t know if you’re going to see them in a week, or two, or in a month. But they’re coming.”
Tactical adjustments
The Gunners boss suggested he is finally learning how to extract the maximum potential from the former QPR and Palace man.
Arteta admitted he is “starting to understand” the specific tactical requirements needed to unlock Eze’s ability.
“You see how players react in relation to certain decisions that you take,” the Spaniard added.
“When they have better games, when they have certain difficulties.”
“His role has been modified a few times throughout the season and his reaction has always been top, but it’s tough to perform after which is what we need.”
“He’s been exceptional in the manner he’s behaving every single day, but what we need is that those manners are transformed into huge performances that decide football matches.”
“That’s the reason we bought him.”