Mohamed Salah is set to join up with the Egypt national team ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations amid intense speculation over his Liverpool future.
Having been briefly exiled from the Reds’ squad following a shock outburst on December 7th, the superstar winger was brought back into the fold for Saturday’s win over Brighton.
Despite being reinstated before his focus switches to international football, there is a real chance that Salah has played his last game for Liverpool.
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Gut feeling, has Mohamed Salah played his last game for Liverpool? If yes, how do you feel about it?
421 appearances
250 goals
114 assists
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Whether that is the case or not, the Reds always knew they would have to navigate this portion of the season without their legendary No. 11.
And with AFCON now almost upon us, here are all the key dates for Liverpool supporters to know regarding which games Salah will miss and when he could return.
Mohamed Salah guaranteed to miss at least two games
Egypt kick off their bid to win a record-extending eighth African title on Monday, December 22nd, with all three group games to be played within a week.
Should the Pharaohs suffer a surprise exit from a group including Zimbabwe, Angola and South Africa, Salah could then be available for Liverpool’s clash against Leeds United on New Year’s Day.
Egyptian national team player Mohamed Salah looks on before a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match between Egypt and Sierra Leone
Photo by Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images
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In the more likely event that Egypt progress to the knockout stages, Liverpool will definitely be without Salah for this weekend’s match against Tottenham, next week’s clash with Wolves and the Leeds game at Anfield.
The AFCON last-16 matches will then take place between the 3rd and 5th of January, which would mean Salah would miss a fourth game – away at Fulham on January 4th.
Should Egypt navigate themselves into the last eight, Salah would then miss a big Liverpool match away at Arsenal January 8th. AFCON quarter-finals are scheduled to take place in the two days following the Reds’ trip to North London.
How many Premier League points will Liverpool collect while Mohamed Salah is at AFCON?
How many points will Liverpool pick up while Mohamed Salah is at AFCON
Salah could miss as many as six Premier League matches 😬
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Liverpool’s next fixture is one which Salah would have been unlikely to be involved in anyway; the FA Cup third round meeting with Barnsley at Anfield.
Salah could miss up to eight Liverpool matches
If Egypt manage to get all the way to the last four at AFCON, they are guaranteed to be in Morocco until at least January 17th.
That is when the third-place play-off is in the calendar for, with the semi-finals themselves taking place three days earlier.
Liverpool play Burnley on the 17th, meaning Salah would definitely be missing for what would be a seventh consecutive fixture.
The Egyptian King will be hoping he is in Rabat on the 18th, with the AFCON final scheduled to take place at 7pm GMT.
Should Salah and his teammates make it, it is probable he will also miss Liverpool’s Champions League visit to Marseille on the 21st whether Egypt are victorious or not.
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