A look at some of latest Liverpool news as a Mohamed Salah worry emergers and a key player addresses speculation over their future at Anfield
Mohamed Salah of Egypt
Liverpool could be without Mohamed Salah for longer than the club hoped(Image: Ahmed Awaad/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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As the international break draws to a close, Liverpool will be keen to get back into action. The Reds' last match before the pause in the league season ended in a disappointing defeat to Manchester City.
The break has provided manager Arne Slot with an opportunity to contemplate how to halt his team's recent downturn. Despite a victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League earlier this month, Liverpool have only managed one win in their last six league matches.
Next on the agenda for Slot's squad is a home game against Nottingham Forest, where the Reds will be eager to return to winning ways. However, the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations could pose a challenge for the team to consistently return to top form.
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Mohamed Salah is set to captain Egypt at the tournament and it remains unclear how many club games he might miss. Elsewhere, Ibrahima Konate has addressed rumours about his future.
With the defender entering the final year of his contract, there has been persistent speculation about a potential transfer to Real Madrid. Here, ECHO Sport looks at some of the headlines surrounding Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah concern
Liverpool may be without Mohamed Salah for longer than initially anticipated, as negotiations between the Reds and the Egyptian FA continue. The issue revolves around Egypt's desire to include Salah in their squad for a pre-tournament friendly against Nigeria on December 14.
The Reds would prefer Salah to depart for international duty following their Anfield fixture against Brighton on December 13. However, Egypt's preference to have Salah available against Nigeria means the 33-year-old forward may potentially be unavailable for one game more than initially expected.
Discussions between Liverpool and Egypt are ongoing. Discussing the situation, Egypt's technical director Ibrahim Hassan told winwin.com: "We are still in contact with Liverpool and Manchester City (over Omar Marmoush) at the moment for this matter."
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool
Mohamed Salah is set to miss several Liverpool games due to AFCON
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Should Salah be unavailable for the Brighton fixture, he could miss as many as nine Liverpool matches if Egypt reach the AFCON final on January 18. The Reds have seven league fixtures during this time, alongside a Champions League encounter in Marseille shortly afterwards. The FA Cup third round will also take place during this timeframe.
Salah will be hoping to claim AFCON glory for the first time in his career, having previously been a runner-up on two occasions. Meanwhile, it was announced before Egypt's friendly with Cape Verde on Monday that the Liverpool star would be rested.
Ibrahima Konate admission
Ibrahima Konate has acknowledged that transfer speculation surrounding his future has affected how some Liverpool supporters view him. The centre-half joined from RB Leipzig in 2021 and has secured the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup during his spell at Anfield.
Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool
Irahima Konate has discussed the reports about his Liverpool future
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The 26-year-old defender has been heavily linked with Real Madrid as his Liverpool contract winds down, a transfer that could see him link up once more with former colleague Trent Alexander-Arnold. While away with France, Konate expressed his frustration regarding the ongoing speculation.
"It's difficult, we can't say everything because a lot of things are already being said in the media," Konate told TF1. "Some of the things that I read, I'm like... oh la la. That puts me in a tight spot with Liverpool fans, and they don't even know all the ins and outs."
Earlier during the international window, Konate had addressed his situation: "My agents continue to discuss with Liverpool. I hope my decision will be made very soon so I can announce it."