A win for Salah would be a significant boost, as he navigates his current situation and considers his future with the team. If he were to win, it would be his first time receiving the award.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed surprise at Salah's comments about their relationship having broken down completely, and is unsure if the player will feature for the team again. This uncertainty is compounded by the absence of other key players, such as Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa, who were not selected for the squad traveling to Italy on Monday.