13/12/2025

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SATURDAY | DEC 13, 2025

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Mohamed Salah celebrating Liverpool’s Premier League title (left) and on the bench before a recent Champions League match. – REUTERSPIC

All eyes on Mo Salah’s future in focus as Liverpool face Brighton

A LL eyes are on Mohamed Salah’s uncertain future at Liverpool as Arne Slot tries to shut out the noise and pre pare his men to face Brighton today (11pm Malaysian time). The Egyptian superstar has hinted today’s match at Anfield could be his last for the Premier League champions, taking aim at manager Slot and the club hierarchy in an explosive interview. It is difficult to see a way back for Salah at Anfield unless he apologises to Arne Slot and the club. The forward accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” and said he had no relationship with the Dutch manager after he was left on the bench for last week’s 3-3 draw at Leeds – the third match in a row that he did not start. The 33-year-old did not travel for Wednesday’s Champions League match at Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0, posting a picture of himself alone in a gym on social media. Salah, who is preparing to join the Egypt squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, has invited his family to the Brighton game. “I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go the Africa Cup,” he told reporters. “I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.” But as things stand Salah, who has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League,

That unwanted title is held by Derby, who ended the 2007/08 campaign with just 11 points. Mikel Arteta’s Gunners slipped up against Aston Villa last week and Manchester City took full advantage. But they bounced back in the Champions League in midweek, beating Club Brugge 3-0 to make it six wins out of six in Europe. Arteta’s team have been without both of their first-choice centrebacks, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, for their past four games in all competitions but they will likely have too much for Wolves. Manchester City, now just two points behind the Gunners, face a tricky trip to London to face Oliver Glasner’s in-form Crystal Palace. Palace have reached 26 points after 15 Premier League matches – their best start to a top-flight campaign and double the tally they had at this stage of last season. The highlight of 2025 for Oliver Glasner’s team was beating City in the FA Cup final in May, which ensured qualification for Europe. Now Palace, who have already beaten Liverpool at home this season, are in the top four as they aim even higher. City have gone under the radar this season but are emerging as the main challengers to Arsenal, seeking their fifth successive win in all competitions. Pep Guardiola’s men can take heart from the fact that they have not been beaten at Selhurst Park since 2015.

may not get the chance to say his farewells. It is impossible to predict how the saga will end but there is a chance that the man who is third in Liverpool’s all-time list of goalscorers will never wear the shirt again. When asked whether Salah had played his last game for Liverpool, Slot admitted before the Inter match that he had “no clue”. “It’s difficult but it’s a collective difficult situation that we’re all in,” Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk told Amazon Prime after the San Siro clash. “Between Mo and the club, things are going on and he’s not here today, that’s the reality. I don’t think anything has changed in terms of our focus and determination. “I’ve known him for such a long time, we are good friends and have been through highs and lows. We speak and those types of things will stay indoors as it should be. We have to brace ourselves and be against the outside noise… You have to recover and get back to Brighton already.” Leaders Arsenal host winless Wolves, who have lost their past eight games and are already 13 points from safety. The match at the Emirates appears to be a nailed-on home win for the Premier League leaders, who last week suffered their first defeat since August. Wolves, with just two points from their opening 15 games, are on track for the worst season in Premier League history.

EPL FIXTU R E S

All matches in Malaysian time.

TODAY (11pm) Chelsea vs Everton Liverpool vs B righton TOMO RR OW (10pm unless stated) B urnley vs Fulham (1.30am) Arsenal vs Wolves (4am)

C. Palace vs Man City N ottm Forest vs S purs S underland vs N ewcastle West Ham vs Aston Villa MO N DAY (12.30am) B rentford vs Leeds TUE S DAY (4am) Man Utd vs B ournemouth

But they face a tough task against Palace, who have the tightest defence in the league apart from Arsenal, with just 12 goals conceded. – AFP/Reuters

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