Salah’s AFCON Exit and Its Impact on Liverpool

A tense match in Tangiers concluded with Mane scoring a decisive low finish from the edge of the box, giving Senegal a well-deserved lead with just 12 minutes remaining. Senegal will now prepare to face the hosts, Morocco, in the final scheduled for Sunday in Rabat.

Despite Mohamed Salah’s impressive run of four goals leading up to the semi-finals, he was effectively contained by the Senegalese defense. This defeat marks yet another missed opportunity for Salah to secure his first continental title, necessitating his return to club responsibilities.

However, Salah will not return to Anfield immediately, as Egypt is set to compete in the third-place playoff against Nigeria on Saturday afternoon—a match often considered undesirable. Although there is a chance that a high-profile player like Salah could be released from national duty early, it is likely he will remain unavailable to Liverpool for the time being.

Consequently, Salah is anticipated to miss Liverpool’s Premier League match against Burnley on Saturday, and it seems that the Champions League fixture in Marseille on January 21 may also be too soon to accommodate his travel and recovery needs. His probable return to action is expected to coincide with Liverpool’s visit to Bournemouth in the late kick-off on January 24. Liverpool management acknowledges Salah’s commitment to his national team and will not rush his recovery.

Salah’s return to England will inevitably bring his future at Liverpool back into the spotlight. After his departure for AFCON in December, Salah had publicly criticized head coach Arne Slot, alleging that he had been “thrown under the bus” following his omission during a challenging phase for the team. He was absent for the Champions League encounter against Inter in Italy but later made a farewell appearance against Brighton before leaving for Morocco.

With the January transfer window now open, it will be intriguing to observe if Liverpool receives any offers, particularly from the affluent Saudi Pro League, which has shown interest in acquiring the Egyptian star.