Liverpool take on Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday and the absence of the injured Mohamed Salah will be keenly felt. His absence - and the reaction to it - shows just how much has changed since these two sides last met in the reverse fixture at Anfield.

Four months ago, Salah was relegated to the bench for three straight games, staying as an unused sub against West Ham and Leeds and only playing 45 minutes against Sunderland. He was omitted altogether for the Champions League league phase clash with Inter Milan, raising questions over his future.

Concerns mounted that last season's leading goalscorer might never regain his form and that his time on Merseyside had come to an end. He made his comeback against the Seagulls, though, with Slot showing a willingness to welcome the player back after that spell out of the starting XI.

The scheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations may have proved beneficial, with Salah travelling to Morocco following that Brighton victory and enjoying a period away from the club spotlight. Nevertheless, his remarks about his relationship with Slot left some worried he could depart during the winter transfer window.

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"I could not believe I was sitting on the bench for 90 minutes," Salah said after the 3-3 draw with Leeds. "That's the third time. It's the first time in my career I think. I am very disappointed, I have done so much for this club over years, especially last season, It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus.

"That's how I feel it. Someone wants me to get all the blame. The club promised me a lot in summer. Now I'm on bench so I can say they haven't kept those promises.

"I used to have a good relationship (with Slot). Now we don't have any relationship and I don't know why. Seems like someone does not want me in the club. I called my mum and dad and told them to come to the Brighton game."

(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA, Getty Images)

However, Salah returned and featured in seven consecutive league matches before finding himself back amongst the substitutes against Spurs in their most recent outing. He has contributed one goal and three assists in the league since his return from AFCON, alongside four goals and two assists across six appearances in the Champions League and FA Cup.

The most recent of those came in the Champions League this week against Galatasaray. Salah netted his 10th goal of the campaign to help complete a turnaround and it served as yet another reminder of what the Egyptian brings to the table and how dramatically his circumstances have shifted.

Slot's readiness to reintegrate Salah into the squad in December demonstrates just how vital he and Liverpool consider one of last season's title-winning heroes. Now the challenge is determining how effectively they can manage when he isn't available.

Salah will miss Saturday's fixture at the Amex Stadium. However, he is anticipated to return to action following the international break.

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