Liverpool have received a major lift regarding Mo Salah just as they prepare for his upcoming absence during AFCON.

Liverpool are set to lose Mo Salah to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), but the club will be able to keep hold of him longer than initially expected.

Egypt boss Hossam Hassan had hoped to gather his squad as early as this week ahead of the tournament in Morocco, where the Pharaohs open their campaign against Zimbabwe just three days before Christmas.

Salah had planned to speak with his national coach in an effort to stay with Liverpool until after next Saturday’s clash with Brighton, and it now appears he will be available for the Seagulls’ trip to Anfield.

So when must Liverpool release Salah for AFCON duty?

According to Mail Sport, FIFA have granted clubs an extra seven days before releasing players for the competition, moving the mandatory release date from next Monday to 15 December.

That adjustment means Liverpool can use Salah in their next four fixtures, including the Champions League match at Inter Milan and the Premier League meeting with Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton.

Salah was already rested for Sunday’s 2-0 win at West Ham, giving the team a glimpse of what life may look like without their No. 11 during AFCON. Arne Slot’s men delivered a composed and deserved victory, showing they’re capable of performing well even without the Egyptian on the pitch.

Still, despite receiving plenty of criticism this season, Salah remains Liverpool’s joint-second top scorer with five goals. His experience and proven quality will certainly be missed in difficult away trips to Tottenham and Arsenal while he is competing in Morocco.

For now, though, Liverpool will at least have him available for the upcoming visit to the San Siro and the tricky home game against Brighton on 13 December. Even if he doesn’t start, having him as an option will give Slot valuable peace of mind—especially with the risk of injuries elsewhere in the attack.