Mohamed Salah has been included in the Liverpool squad for Saturday’s trip to Brighton following talks with Arne Slot.
The Football Association is set to raise fan concerns over World Cup ticket prices with FIFA, while Mikel Arteta has urged Viktor Gyokeres’ critics to “leave him alone”.
Manchester United are waiting to see if Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui can face Bournemouth before going to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah’s in the squad
Mohamed Salah has been included in the Liverpool squad for Saturday’s clash with Brighton after talks with head coach Arne Slot.
Slot insisted he would have the final say on the Egypt forward’s inclusion after he was omitted from their midweek Champions League trip to Milan following explosive comments made last weekend.
After Liverpool’s Premier League draw with Leeds, Salah said his relationship with Slot had broken down and had been “thrown under the bus” in response to recent results, suggesting Saturday’s game could be his last for the club.
Slot said at his press conference he had “no reasons (for) not wanting him to stay” but intimated there would have to be some form of conciliation from Salah for him to be reintegrated in what would be his last match before going to the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday.
The Press Association understands Slot’s decision has been taken in what he feels is the best interest of the team.
FA to address World Cup ticket concerns
Football Supporters' Association statement on World Cup prices:
The prices set for the 2026 World Cup are scandalous, a step too far for many supporters who passionately and loyally follow their national sides at home and abroad.
Everything we feared about the direction in… pic.twitter.com/1NBYA3oufk
— The FSA (@WeAreTheFSA) December 12, 2025
Fan concerns over World Cup ticket prices will be raised to FIFA by the Football Association.
World Cup ticket pricing for members of national team travel clubs and loyalty schemes was revealed on Thursday and contained some eye-watering figures, with the cheapest ticket for the July 19 final costing more than £3,000.
The Football Supporters’ Association has called on the FA to challenge World Cup organiser FIFA on the pricing, which the FSA described as “scandalous” and a “laughable insult” to the average fan.
The Press Association understands fans’ discontent will be raised to FIFA through the right channels by the FA, but sources close to the governing body are not hopeful of anything changing as a result.
Gyokeres in need of goals?
Mikel Arteta has told Viktor Gyokeres’ critics to “leave him alone” despite admitting the striker needs to start scoring.
The £64million signing – who scored 97 times across 102 appearances for Sporting Lisbon – has just four Premier League goals and six in total this season and his form has come into the spotlight ahead of Saturday night’s clash against Wolves.
“He is a player that comes to a different league, the most demanding league in the world,” said Arteta.
“That was my only question to him: ‘How are you going to react if you don’t score in five or six games? Can you cope with that? And then what’s going to happen in the next 100 games?’
“And that’s what you have to see. The sample is very small. So, leave him alone, let him do what he does best, be behind him and I’m sure things will turn out in the right way.”
United wait on Africa Cup of Nations trio
Ruben Amorim revealed that Manchester United are still waiting to find out if Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui can face Bournemouth on Monday before going to the Africa Cup of Nations.
FIFA announced last week that the release period for the tournament “will be reduced by seven days and start on Monday, December 15 2025”.
Amorim said: “We are still in conversations with the national teams. The game is just Monday. They are here, they are training and we are trying to prepare all the scenarios for the game.
“It’s frustrating but at the same time nobody knows who is going to play, so it’s a good thing I think. We have players to cope with everything.”
What’s on today?
Mouth-watering fixtures wherever you look in the table for Matchweek 16 😍 pic.twitter.com/6PKZqzooSF
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 12, 2025
Chelsea host Everton and Liverpool meet Brighton in the Premier League before Burnley face Fulham and the late kick-off sees top-of-the-table Arsenal come up against strugglers Wolves.
Championship leaders Coventry face Bristol City and second-placed Middlesbrough will be aiming for their fourth straight league win when they take on QPR.
In the Scottish Premiership, leaders Hearts travel to Falkirk and in the Women’s Super League, Everton face Arsenal at midday.
