Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion
Mohamed Salah said goodbye to Liverpool supporters at Anfield before heading off to AFCON with Egypt
Liverpool continue to navigate a difficult season and now must do so without the help of Mohamed Salah. The attacker has not left the club entirely despite recent transfer concerns, but has jetted off with Egypt to try and win the Africa Cup of Nations.
waved goodbye to supporters inside following last weekend's win over Brighton in the club's colours. But, as things stand he is set to return following AFCON - the difficult part of that is uncertainty over when exactly that be.
Egypt are set for three group stage fixtures against Zimbabwe, South Africa and Angola between December 22 and 29. If they advance, they could make it all the way to the final on January 18, 2026.
If they do, it will be more than a month that the Reds are missing their forward.
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The ECHO looks at the total matches Salah could miss whilst away on international duty.
Date: Saturday, December 20 The first Reds match Salah will miss as he prepares to begin AFCON's group stage will be away at Tottenham Hotspur. Last season he scored and assisted twice in this Premier League fixture, which ended 6-3 to Liverpool. 1 of 6
2.
Date: Saturday, December 27 Salah will also be absent when Liverpool host Wolves the following weekend, though Arne Slot will hope he has enough firepower to defeat the Premier League's last-placed team at Anfield. Salah scored what turned out to be the match-winning penalty in this fixture last season. 2 of 6
3.
Date: Thursday, January 1 Even if his country suffered a shock group stage elimination come December 29, Salah would be classed as a huge doubt for the visit of Leeds United on New Year's Day. If he does miss this one, it means the 33-year-old will not have played against the Yorkshire club at all this season, as earlier this month in the reverse fixture he sat on the bench for the duration. 3 of 6