Mo Salah will lead Egypt in the 2025-26 Africa Cup of Nations, but new developments could mean Liverpool will be without their star player for even longer than originally expected.
Liverpool could be without Mo Salah sooner than expected ahead of the African Cup of Nations, with Egypt hoping to have him available for pre-tournament friendlies. Salah, 33, will be captain of Morocco’s national team, with the tournament starting on December 21st.
However, Egypt are hoping to have Salah available for their friendly against Nigeria, which will be played a week before the match. The Liverpool star is therefore likely to miss the Reds’ home game against Brighton on December 13th and the festival period.
The tournament runs until January 18, so Salah could miss up to seven Liverpool games depending on Hossam Hassan’s side’s progress. If Egypt are sent off in the group stages, Salah could be available for the Reds’ game against Leeds at Anfield on New Year’s Day, but a more realistic return date is thought to be for Fulham three days later.
According to the ECHO, talks are underway between Liverpool and the Egyptian FA as manager Arne Slott prepares for the AFCON period without Salah. Relations between the Anfield leadership and Egypt remain strong and negotiations are progressing towards an understanding ahead of a crucial period for both parties next month.
However, Salah will not play in Egypt’s match against Cape Verde on Monday. The 33-year-old is currently taking a break.
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“The Egyptian national football team, led by Hossam Hassan, held a training session in Al Ain in preparation for the friendly match against Cape Verde, which will be played on Monday at 6pm (Cairo time) at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE),” the statement said.
“It has also been confirmed that the duo of Ahmed Said Zizo and Hamdi Fati will be absent from the game against Cape Verde due to injury, Mohamed Salah will be rested and will not take part in the friendly against Cape Verde, while Salah Mohsen will undergo recovery training.
What will happen to Liverpool without Mo Salah? Let us know your predictions in the comments section.
“Football Association Directors Tarek Abu El-Enein and Mohamed Abu Hussein attended the training session of the Egyptian national team.”
Slott has already been told that AFCON could be the ideal time to find a system that works without Salah, who has been less prolific this season. The former Roma star has scored just two goals in Liverpool’s last 10 games and there are question marks over his place in the starting XI.
Former Reds midfielder Don Hutchison said via Goal: “Every team in the Premier League would love (Florian) Wirtz, (Alexander) Isak and Salah. With Go) Ekitike, we have to come up with a formula to put those three in the same number 11, because you can’t spend that much money on Wirtz, Isaac and Ekitike and tell them to fight for their place in the team.”
Hutchinson added: “So the uncomfortable conversation is why don’t we have Mo Salah in that squad anymore and how do we do that? Maybe the African Cup of Nations is the time to test that!”
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