Why Mohamed Salah's Return to Liverpool from AFCON Delayed, Future Uncertain
Liverpool will have to wait for Mohamed Salah's return at Anfield following Egypt's AFCON defeat by Sadio Mane's Senegal. Find out why his immediate comeback is unlikely and what this means for his future with the Reds.
Liverpool will have to wait a little while longer to welcome Mohamed Salah back at Anfield despite Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations exit at the hands of Senegal. The Pharoahs suffered semi-final heartbreak in Morocco on Wednesday night as Salah's former Reds co-star Sadio Mane fired home a clinical late winner to send his country to the final.A cagy contest in Tangiers was settled when Mane lashed in a low finish from the edge of the box with 12 minutes left on the clock to give Senegal a deserved lead. They will face the winners of the other semi-final, hosts Morocco, in the showpiece in Rabat on Sunday.Salah had scored four times en route to the last four, but Egypt's talisman was kept quiet by the Senegalese backline. The defeat means his hopes of winning a first-ever continental title have been snuffed out once again and he is now set to head back to his club.However, Salah won't make an immediate return to Anfield. That is because Egypt will have to contest the third-place playoff against Nigeria on Saturday afternoon - notoriously a match that no-one ever really wants to be involved in. There is the possibility that a big name like Salah will be released early from national team duty, but the likelihood is that he will remain unavailable to Liverpool for the time being.That means that Salah is set to miss Liverpool's Premier League clash with Burnley on Saturday afternoon, and you would imagine that the Champions League trip to Marseille on Wednesday, January 21, may also come too soon when you factor in travel and recovery time. The winger is therefore most likely to make his comeback when the Reds visit Bournemouth in the late kick-off on Saturday, January 24. According to liverpool.com, his club are respectful of the fact he has another match to focus on with his country and won't rush him back.Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingSalah's return to English shores may well bring his future at Liverpool back into sharp focus. The dust has now settled, but before he headed to AFCON in December the 33-year-old spoke out against head coach Arne Slot, sensationally claiming he had been "thrown under the bus" having been dropped amid the Reds' struggle for form. He was subsequently left at home for the Champions League meeting with Inter in Italy, returning to the fold for a farewell appearance against Brighton ahead of jetting off for the tournament in Morocco.With the January transfer window now open, it will be interesting to see whether the Merseysiders receive any proposals, with the moneyed Saudi Pro League openly keen on bringing the Egyptian in.
Extended Absence Post-Egypt's AFCON Exit
Despite Egypt's semi-final exit at the hands of Senegal, Mohamed Salah won't make an immediate return to Liverpool as the Pharaohs have a third-place playoff against Nigeria. With Salah likely to remain with the national team for now, his availability for Liverpool's upcoming matches seems doubtful.
Liverpool's Fixture Concerns
Salah's absence from the Premier League clash with Burnley and likely miss against Marseille in the Champions League creates a timeline for his return set around Liverpool's fixture against Bournemouth on January 24. Liverpool's management acknowledges the need for Salah to focus on his national team commitments before returning to club duties.
Future Speculation and Transfer Window Impact
Salah's return post-AFCON will see renewed focus on his future at Liverpool, especially after recent controversies with head coach Arne Slot. With the January transfer window open, potential proposals for Salah could arise, particularly with interest from the Saudi Pro League.
