Former Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino appears to be resuming his peace-brokering duties with a frank message regarding the Mohamed Salah situation. The Egyptian star’s future at Anfield is in doubt after he publicly criticized the club and manager Arne Slott last weekend.
Salah’s bombshell interview after the 3-3 stalemate at Leeds United has meant he has been left out of Liverpool’s traveling squad for Tuesday night’s Champions League game against Inter. However, following discussions with Slott, he is expected to return to the squad for this weekend’s match against Brighton.
Before the game, Slott confirmed he would have a “conversation” with Salah about the matter, but Firmino was clearly supportive, reacting to the news on Instagram with applause, red heart and prayer emojis.
The Brazilian spent eight seasons at Liverpool, and by his own admission, much of that time involved mediating between Salah and Sadio Mane. In an excerpt from his autobiography two years ago, Firmino, who played between two wingers, revealed the aspects of his role under Jurgen Klopp that made the three-man attack so effective.
“They were never best friends. Each kept to himself,” he revealed in an excerpt published in the Guardian. “It was unusual to see the two talking, but I don’t know if it had anything to do with the Egypt-Senegal rivalry in the African Games.
“I really don’t know. But they never stopped talking, they never broke ties. They always conducted themselves with the utmost professionalism.
“I was never on either side. That’s why they love me. I always passed the ball to both sides. My preference was for the team to win.”
“A lot of people focus on what I bring to the attacking trio tactically, but perhaps just as important is the human element, my role as a peacemaker, a unifier. If I don’t do that, there’s just going to be a storm between the two of us on the field.”
Manager Klopp also acknowledged the tension between Salah and Mane. “Were they best friends? No,” he said via BBC Sport.
“Could Mo have passed the ball a few times when he tried to stop it himself? Yes. But on the pitch they supported each other and fought for each other.”
Firmino’s efforts to calm tensions appear to have proved valuable to Klopp. He might do the same in the slot this time, despite being far away from the club this time. There is a good chance that the atmosphere at Liverpool has changed, with Salah set to be in the squad for Saturday’s game against Brighton.
