Mohamed Salah won’t be in action for Liverpool over the coming weeks after joining up with the Egypt squad ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. The winger hasn’t started a game for the Reds since their 4-1 humbling at the hands of PSV in late November.
Salah was named on the bench for Liverpool’s Premier League clashes with West Ham, Sunderland and Leeds. He failed to make it onto the pitch against the Hammers and the Whites, and then claimed he had been thrown “under the bus” by his club as he explained his relationship with boss Arne Slot had deteriorated. The 33-year-old didn’t travel to Italy for the Reds’ Champions League showdown with Inter Milan last week but returned to the bench for Saturday’s league clash with Brighton. And Liverpool fans will now have to wait until the New Year to see him in club colours again.
Salah left out of Egypt squad
After providing an assist for Hugo Ekitike’s second goal against Brighton, Salah travelled to Egypt to link up with his international team-mates.
But he failed to make it into the matchday squad for his country’s AFCON warm-up game against Nigeria on Tuesday after missing training the previous day.
Egypt ultimately won the match 2-1 as Ahly SC star Zizo started on the right wing instead of the Liverpool man. Salah will, however, captain Egypt at AFCON and will be aiming to lead his country to the trophy for the first time since 2010.
Salah’s farewell message
After playing his final club game in 2025, Salah took to Instagram to remind his followers just how good he is.
The veteran posted a graphic showing a list of the players who have contributed the most goals and assists for one club during the Premier League era.
Salah moved clear at the top of the list at the weekend after notching his 277th Premier League goal contribution against the Seagulls.
Wayne Rooney is second with 276 goal contributions for Manchester United, with the striker’s former Red Devils team-mate Ryan Giggs occupying third spot after playing a role in 271 goals.
Slot’s AFCON verdict
Slot spoke to Salah ahead of the Brighton clash, before deciding to bring the ace back into the fold. And before the player departed for Egypt, the Liverpool manager explained: “For me there’s no issues to resolve. He is the same as any other player. You talk to your players if you are happy or unhappy with things.
“Mo is going to go to the AFCON now. I hope he is going to do very well, and in the meantime we have to do without him, without that many players available. But the good thing is we play Saturday [against Tottenham] and again Saturday [against Wolves].”