Mohamed Salah will officially depart for the Africa Cup of Nations after Liverpool’s clash with Brighton on December 13, meaning he misses a minimum of three games.
FIFA have confirmed the latest release date for players involved at the mid-season AFCON, with departures required by December 15.
That means Salah’s last game for Liverpool before joining the Egypt squad will be at home to Brighton on December 13.
After that, he will captain his country in Group B clashes with Zimbabwe, South Africa and Angola.
The 2025 AFCON runs from December 21 to January 18, meaning Salah will miss a minimum of three games for Liverpool – and as many as eight.
Liverpool games Mo Salah will definitely miss for AFCON
2WCADMB January 14 2024: Mohamed Salah Salah Mahrous Ghaly (Egypt) looks on during a African Cup of Nations Group B game, Egypt vs Mozambique, at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Kim Price/CSM (Credit Image: © Kim Price/Cal Sport Media) (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
With Salah joining Egypt for preparations on December 15 and their group games scheduled for December 22, 26 and 29, he will miss the following games for Liverpool:
• Tottenham (A) – Premier League – December 20
• Wolves (H) – Premier League – December 27
• Leeds (H) – Premier League – January 1
If Egypt were knocked out of the group stage Salah could in theory return in time for the clash with Leeds on New Year’s Day.
However, Egypt’s early exit from the tournament is considered unlikely and the short turnaround between fixtures – along with travelling back from Morocco and rejoining training at Liverpool – makes any participation even less likely.
The 5 extra Liverpool games Salah could miss
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 20, 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Everton FC at Anfield. The 247th Merseyside Derby. Liverpool won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
After the group stage concludes, AFCON begins the knockouts from a round of 16, before subsequent quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final, along with a third-placed playoff.
Salah could therefore miss the following five fixtures for Liverpool depending on how far Egypt progress:
• AFCON Round of 16 – January 3/4/5
• Fulham (A) – Premier League – January 4
• Arsenal (A) – Premier League – January 8
• AFCON Quarter-Finals – January 9/10
• FA Cup Third Round – January 11
• AFCON Semi-Finals: January 14
• Burnley (H) – Premier League – January 17
• AFCON Final: January 18
• Marseille (A) – Champions League – January 21
Again, Salah could feasibly represent Egypt in either the final or third-placed playoff (set to take place on December 17) before flying back to feature in Liverpool’s Champions League clash at Marseille.
But Liverpool are unlikely to rush their No. 11 back and risk any fitness issues following what promises to be a rigorous tournament.
Any potential games missed will of course be adjusted based on Egypt’s progress: for example, an exit from the round of 16 could see Salah available for either the trip to Arsenal or the FA Cup third round.
Liverpool’s options without Mo Salah
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. Forest won 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Arne Slot is expected to turn to Dominik Szoboszlai on the right wing in the absence of Liverpool’s third-top goalscorer of all time.
Jeremie Frimpong is also set to be considered in a more advanced attacking role while Federico Chiesa is on hand and Florian Wirtz could be deployed on the right flank too.
Salah was left out entirely in the 2-0 win over West Ham last time out, in an early hint at Slot’s plans without the Egyptian.
• READ: Liverpool changes provide blueprint for AFCON and life after Mo Salah