Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that Mohamed Salah will travel to join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15, 2025. Egypt reportedly wants him to arrive before the official start on December 21, as reported by sports journalist Fabrizio Romano via his official X account.
He said:
Arne Slot: Mo Salah will travel for AFCON on December 15. Of course a player is not happy if he’s not starting but he was very supportive of his teammates. He’s a top professional.
Slot also talked about Salah’s attitude after being rotated in the squad. This comes after Slot benched Salah during the 2-1 win over West Ham, goals from Isak and Gakpo were crucial in securing the result.
He described the decision as part of careful squad management, ensuring players stay fresh during the hectic schedule.
Salah leaving the team to join the Egyptian national team means he could miss Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Brighton on December 13 and a few more Liverpool games in the busy festive period.
The Reds have had a rough patch recently, including that heavy 4-1 defeat at home to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, as reported by Softfootball. Even with winning the Premier League title last season, Slot is under pressure now.
Salah’s AFCON absence is tricky for Liverpool but also provides a real chance for the club’s big summer signings to step up and show their quality.
The Reds spent over £300 million in securing the signing of forwards like Isak, Ekitike, and Wirtz, clearly looking for a long-term Salah replacement.
Fans will hope Salah comes back refreshed, but the coming weeks are crucial to see if Liverpool can rediscover form and whether Slot’s squad can manage without their long-time talisman.
