Arne Slot encounters first Mohamed Salah problem that could impact Liverpool pre-season plans

Arne Slot has been confirmed as Liverpool's new head coach and will officially get down to work on June 1. But he may well have encountered his first problem involving Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian has another year left on his Anfield contract and is expected to be the subject of fresh interest from Saudi Pro League clubs this summer. He has indicated that he will be sticking around though as Liverpool starts life without Jürgen Klopp.

He wrote on social media: "We know that trophies are what count and we will do everything possible to make that happen next season. Our fans deserve it and we will fight like hell."

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Slot will have been delighted with the defiant message but he could be without Liverpool's talisman for a large chunk of pre-season. Egypt will take part in the Olympics in Paris this summer and is expected to approach Liverpool over releasing Salah for the competition.

Teams are allowed three players aged over 23 and Salah remains captain of the national side and the star name in Egyptian football. Boss Ruggero Micali wants to call up the 31-year-old telling winwin.com: "We definitely want him with us. We are still awaiting the outcome of communication with Salah and Liverpool through the Egyptian FA."

Slot has already made a change to his pre-season plans, with Liverpool's players set to return a week earlier than initially planned, at the start of July. The Reds will also embark on a pre-season tour of the United States, with the schedule clashing with Egypt's Olympics campaign will begin on July 24.

Should Salah be called up and Egypt reach the Gold Medal match, he will not be back at Anfield until days before the start of the new Premier League season. The issue facing Slot is one predecessor Klopp knows all too well.

Salah has joined up with his country mid-season throughout Klopp's tenure, most notably for the Africa Cup of Nations. In this year's competition, he suffered a hamstring injury in the opening match and missed almost two months of action.

Liverpool.com says: Losing Salah for pre-season would be an issue that Slot is eager to avoid. But at this stage of his career, he is only going to get this chance to play at the Olympics. If he does want to go, Liverpool is unlikely to stand in his way but will be praying he doesn't pick up an injury.