Liverpool may be heading into the festive schedule without their biggest superstar — and the latest twist from Egypt has made the situation even more complicated 😬🔥.
Mo Salah, now 33, is preparing to lead his country at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, which officially kicks off on December 21. But fresh developments mean the Reds could lose him earlier than expected.
✈️ Egypt Want Salah Sooner Than Planned
Egypt’s national team staff reportedly want Salah involved in a pre-AFCON friendly against Nigeria, scheduled just a week before the tournament begins.
If that happens, the Liverpool forward would almost certainly miss the Reds’ clash with Brighton on December 13, along with several key games during the busy Christmas run.
📅 How Many Matches Could He Miss?
Depending on how far Egypt go in the tournament — which ends January 18 — Salah might be sidelined for as many as seven Liverpool matches.
There’s a slim chance he returns early if Egypt have a shock group-stage exit. In that scenario, he might be back in time for Liverpool’s home showdown with Leeds on New Year’s Day.
But the more realistic return date is their January 4 trip to Fulham.
🤝 Talks Ongoing Between Liverpool & Egypt
Despite the disruption, communication remains positive. Liverpool officials and the Egyptian FA are still working towards an understanding as Arne Slot prepares for another AFCON spell without his main man.
Salah was left out of Egypt’s upcoming friendly with Cape Verde — not due to injury, but simply to give him a rest.
🗣️ Former Players Weigh In
Some ex-players believe this AFCON window could be the perfect chance for Slot to experiment with a system that functions without Salah. With only two goals in his last 10 Liverpool matches, questions have already started surfacing about his role in the team.
Former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison even suggested Slot must find a tactical formula that fits big-money stars like Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Hugo Ekitike alongside Salah — or possibly without him altogether.
Leave a Reply