Liverpool have received confirmation of the date Mohamed Salah must join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah will link up with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations later this month
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Everything you need to know about Mohamed Salah's availability for Liverpool with the forward set to join Egypt for AFCON later this month...
Mo Salah boost: Liverpool received a significant boost regarding Mohamed Salah's AFCON involvement, thanks to a decision made by FIFA. The world governing body granted Premier League clubs an extra week to keep their African players before the tournament begins.
New release date: Salah must be released by Liverpool for the AFCON tournament no later than December 15th, a date confirmed by FIFA. This FIFA decision gives a boost to Liverpool, as it allows Salah to play in several key matches that the club had hoped he would be available for.
Salah's availability for Liverpool: The FIFA-mandated release date ensures Salah is available for Liverpool's Premier League match against Brighton on December 13th. He will also be available for selection in the preceding matches, including the Champions League fixture against Inter Milan on December 9th.
Games Salah will miss: Following his departure on December 15th, Salah is immediately set to miss three Premier League matches over the busy festive period. These confirmed absences are against Tottenham (December 20th), Wolves (December 27th), and Leeds United (January 1st).
Possibility of missing more games: Should Egypt reach the final of the tournament, Salah could miss several further matches for the Reds in the New Year. These potential missed fixtures include league games against Fulham, Arsenal, and Burnley, along with the third round of the FA Cup.
Arne Slot confirmed that all three parties - the club, the player, and the Egyptian national team, are in continuous discussion. These ongoing talks aim to coordinate the most beneficial timeline for Salah's departure and subsequent return to Anfield.
The overall outcome is considered a major positive for Liverpool's schedule, securing Salah's presence for the majority of their early-December fixtures. The team must now strategise on mitigating the loss of his immense attacking output during the peak of the winter schedule.