How many games will Mohamed Salah miss because of AFCON and when will he return? Liverpool star leaves to join Egypt camp

05/01/2024 13:46

Liverpool will be without Mohamed Salah for the next few weeks as he takes part in the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.

The superstar has enjoyed a stellar season, but he’s set to be absent for several crucial matches.

Over the next month or so, Liverpool are set to be in league and cup action, and many Reds supporters are already wondering when Salah will return.

Salah and Wataru Endo [Japan duty for AFC Asian Cup] made their final appearances at Anfield on New Year’s Day before leaving to join up with their respective countries.

How many games will Salah miss?

The 2024 AFCON is set to be held in the Ivory Coast.

The group stages get underway on Saturday, January 13, with Egypt’s first game against Mozambique taking place the next day.

However, ‘the Pharaohs’ have a friendly on Sunday, January 7 against Tanzania, which meant Salah’s final game for Liverpool was a New Year’s Day clash against Newcastle in which he scored twice in a 4-2 win.

He will definitely miss the FA Cup match with Arsenal on January 7, the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Fulham at Anfield on Wednesday, January 10, and Liverpool’s trip to the south coast to face Bournemouth on Sunday, January 21.

The AFCON group stages end on January 24, so if Egypt go out, Salah would only miss three matches.

When will Salah return?

If Egypt don’t make it past the group stage, the forward should be back for Liverpool’s second-leg semi-final clash against Fulham, although he would be cutting it fine.

Egypt’s last game is on Monday, January 22, against Cape Verde, and the second leg takes place on Wednesday, January 24.

But should Egypt get through, Salah would miss that match and any potential FA Cup fourth-round tie.

Should the Pharaohs go all the way, Salah wouldn’t return until after the final on February 11.

If this were to be the case, Salah would miss two huge league games against Chelsea and Arsenal and one more against Burnley.

The next game after that one at home against the Clarets would be Brentford away on February 17, and Salah would be back for that.