Salah could cause Slot an early headache at Liverpool.

Mohamed Salah might be about to deal new Liverpool manager Arne Slot a significant blow just weeks into his new job.

On Monday Liverpool confirmed that Dutch coach Arne Slot will become the team’s new manager on June 1.

The 45-year-old will replace Jurgen Klopp, who is stepping down from his position almost nine years after he arrived at Anfield.

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Former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso was the favourite to replace Klopp, but last month the Bayer Leverkusen boss committed his immediate future to the Bundesliga champions.

The Anfield club were also linked with Ruben Amorim and Roberto De Zerbi, but in the end a data-driven recruitment process led them to Feyenoord head coach Slot.

Unfortunately for Slot, Liverpool star Salah could give him an early headache.

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Slot has moved the start of Liverpool’s pre-season forward by a week, meaning his squad will convene at the AXA Training Centre in the first week of July.

Players featuring at Euro 2024 and the Copa America will join their teammates at a later date, depending on how far they progress.

Salah is of course playing at neither tournament, but he could miss all of pre-season if he represents Egypt at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Men’s teams at the Olympics football tournament must contain players under of 23, although three overage players are permitted.

Mo Salah (Image: Getty)

The tournament does not begin until July 24 and ends on August 10, meaning Salah could miss Liverpool’s entire pre-season if selected as an overage player.

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Because the Olympic football tournament is not a competition sanctioned by FIFA, clubs can reject call-ups for players. Liverpool did exactly that when Egypt tried to call up Salah for the 2021 Games in Tokyo.

Whatever happens, Salah looks set to stay at Anfield this summer. Liverpool rejected a £150 million offer from Al-Ittihad last September, and since then he has been repeatedly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

The 31-year-old has one year remaining on his contract.

However, after Liverpool won just the Carabao Cup in Klopp’s final season in charge, Salah hinted that he will be around to help the club’s quest for silverware under Slot.

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“We know that trophies are what count and we will do everything possible to make that happen next season,” Salah posted on X.

“Our fans deserve it and we will fight like hell.”

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Alex Brotherton is a journalist at SPORTbible. He has previously worked with publications including the Manchester Evening News, GOAL and BBC Sport. He is a football fanatic, but also dabbles in tennis and American football. He can often be found watching dreadful non-league football.