STWF Sports|Nov. 17, 2025 –  Liverpool may be bracing themselves for a major selection headache as Mohamed Salah could miss up to eight matches due to his involvement in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. With Egypt pushing for an earlier release than FIFA regulations typically require, the Reds face the prospect of losing their talisman for a crucial stretch of the season.

Salah, who has already amassed 107 caps for his country, remains the heartbeat of the Egyptian national team. The Pharaohs open their AFCON campaign on December 22 against Zimbabwe, but their request could see him depart more than a week earlier for a demanding warm-up schedule.

Egypt Push for Early Release

Egypt are currently locked in negotiations with Liverpool regarding when Salah must report for international duty. The flashpoint is an AFCON warm-up fixture against Nigeria, scheduled for December 14—eight days before Egypt’s tournament opener and one day after Liverpool host Brighton on December 13.

National team director Ibrahim Hassan confirmed ongoing talks involving both Liverpool and Manchester City, as Egypt are making similar requests for City forward Omar Marmoush.

“We are still in contact with Liverpool and Manchester City at the moment for this matter,” Hassan said, leaving open the possibility that Salah may be pulled away far earlier than the club hoped.

Liverpool’s Scheduling Crunch

The timing of AFCON 2025—held from December 22 to January 18 in Morocco—raises immediate issues for Jürgen Klopp’s side. Even under standard release rules, Salah is guaranteed to miss Liverpool’s December 27 match vs Wolves.

But the early-release request would add at least two more fixtures to that list. Should Egypt advance deep into the tournament, as they have in both 2017 and 2022, Salah’s absence could balloon to eight total matches, including:

• Premier League: vs Tottenham (Dec 20), Wolves (Dec 27), additional holiday fixtures

• FA Cup: Potential third-round tie in early January

• Any EFL Cup matches depending on progression

• Post-New Year league clashes through January 18

The scenario also depends on Egypt’s performance—anything short of a semifinal run would see Salah back earlier than feared. But history suggests he will likely be in Morocco for the long haul.

Salah’s Current Status

Salah played in Egypt’s 3-2 friendly defeat to Uzbekistan last Friday, winning his 107th cap. He was set to appear again versus Cape Verde but was rested, sparking speculation that Egypt are keen to manage his workload ahead of a physically taxing tournament.

Egypt’s group slate after Zimbabwe includes meetings with South Africa and Angola, matches they are expected to navigate with confidence as they chase an eighth AFCON crown.

A Season-Shaping Absence?

Salah’s importance to Liverpool cannot be overstated. He remains the club’s leading scorer this season and the focal point of their attacking identity. While Liverpool will trust their depth—Luis Díaz, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo, and emerging youngster Ben Doak—none replicate Salah’s ruthlessness or gravitational pull on defenses.

With the Premier League title race tight and Champions League qualification battles fierce, losing Salah for a month—or longer—could dramatically reshape Liverpool’s outlook.

As talks continue between Liverpool, Egypt, and tournament organizers, the Reds will hope for a compromise. But with AFCON preparations vital for Egypt’s ambitions, Klopp may soon have to prepare for life without his star man during one of the busiest parts of the season.