AFCON development puts Liverpool on edge over Salah’s availability in December
Liverpool’s winter campaign could face disruption earlier than anticipated, with new reports indicating that Mo Salah might join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) ahead of schedule.
According to WinWin Sports (via Anfield Index), Egypt may call up their players as early as 7 December to begin preparations for the tournament, which runs from 21 December to 18 January. A friendly against Nigeria is planned for 14 December, raising the possibility that several players—including Salah—could leave their clubs before that date.
This scenario would see the Egyptian star miss key fixtures well before the height of the festive period, posing a major challenge for Arne Slot, who already faces a demanding December calendar.
Liverpool are reportedly bracing for Salah’s early exit, with the 33-year-old still central to the team’s attacking rhythm. Having scored 29 league goals last season to propel the Reds to the Premier League title, his influence remains immense. Even neutral pundits, such as Chris Sutton, continue to tip him as a decisive force—predicting, for instance, a hat trick against Aston Villa.
Egypt boss Hossam Hassan, however, is keen to have his captain fully integrated before the competition starts. Should Salah be released around 7 December, his last Liverpool appearance before AFCON could be the away match at Brighton that weekend.
Depending on Egypt’s success in the tournament, Salah might miss up to six matches across all competitions, including Premier League clashes with Tottenham, Wolves, Leeds, Fulham, and Arsenal—a stretch where his absence will be deeply felt.
This revised timeline significantly shortens the window initially expected for his AFCON participation. With injuries already affecting key players, Slot may have to lean on Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz for attacking depth. Both have shown promise, but replicating Salah’s consistency, leadership, and impact is a monumental challenge.
Egypt, currently ranked third in Africa, enter the tournament as one of the favourites in Morocco. For Liverpool, however, Salah’s early departure represents more than losing a player—it means losing the driving force of their attack during one of the season’s most pivotal periods.
