Salah's AFCON Journey Ends in Semi-Finals, Future with Liverpool Uncertain
Mohamed Salah showed little emotion after Egypt's defeat in the AFCON semi-finals against Senegal in Tangier, though a subtle smile masked his disappointment.
Once again, Salah's Egypt team fell short at the African Cup of Nations, succumbing to Senegal and his former Liverpool teammate, Sadio Mane.
Throughout the tournament in Morocco, Salah scored four goals in five matches, leading his nation to the semi-finals. Following a quarter-final victory over the Ivory Coast, Salah described the experience as the "best camp" he had ever participated in.
"We’re all close, we love each other, we hang out together, the atmosphere is incredible, and we work hard both on and off the pitch," Salah stated.
He is expected to return to Liverpool after participating in the third-place play-off against Nigeria in Casablanca on Saturday. Salah last played for Liverpool on November 26 in a Champions League match against PSV, which ended in a 4-1 defeat.
Since then, Liverpool has gone 11 matches unbeaten (W6, D5), although performances have drawn criticism. Manager Arne Slot admitted last week that he understood suggestions that Liverpool’s style of play has been "dull and boring" during this stretch.
Moreover, it has been over a month since Salah's controversial interview in Leeds, where he accused Liverpool of "throwing him under the bus" after being benched for three consecutive games and expressed concerns over his relationship with Slot.
Although Salah was omitted from Liverpool's match against Inter Milan, he was not fined and returned to the squad for the game against Brighton, where he came off the bench due to an injury to Joe Gomez. He provided an assist and received a warm welcome from the Anfield crowd, who chanted for their "Egyptian King." This was his last appearance before rejoining the national team.
Slot later confirmed that there were "no issues to resolve" and Curtis Jones mentioned that Salah had apologized to his teammates regarding the fallout from the interview.
Despite Salah's absence, Liverpool has not lost any matches, although they have suffered injuries to striker Alexander Isak, who is sidelined until at least March, and defender Conor Bradley, who is out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.
When Will Salah Next Play for Liverpool?
By BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team
Salah will miss Liverpool's upcoming match against Burnley this Saturday, as FIFA regulations require players to remain with their national teams until the morning after their final match. Egypt's participation in the third-place play-off on the same day means Salah will return to the UK on Sunday.
Liverpool will not announce plans for Salah's return until after Egypt's AFCON campaign concludes, although Slot is expected to address questions about Salah at his press conference on Friday. It is likely that Salah will rejoin the squad for their Champions League match against Marseille next week.
Liverpool will face Roberto de Zerbi's side in the Champions League on Wednesday before heading to Bournemouth in the Premier League next Saturday.
What Does the Future Hold for Salah?
"No one in the country wants to win this title more than I do. I’ve won everything in football except this one, and I’ve been carrying this pressure for a long time," Salah expressed before the semi-final loss.
Following Egypt's exit in the round-of-16 in 2023, Salah faced criticism for leaving the tournament early due to injury. In 2021, he did not take a penalty in the final as he was the fifth penalty-taker, while Mane scored the decisive penalty for Senegal.
Salah will have another opportunity to pursue this dream at the next AFCON, scheduled for the summer of 2027 in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, where he will be 35 years old. His current contract with Liverpool is also set to expire that summer, yet he remains in peak condition.
Currently, Liverpool will be eager to have Salah back, especially given their ongoing injury crisis. With Bradley sidelined, Jeremie Frimpong is likely to fill in at right-back, allowing Salah to return to the right flank unless Slot opts for Dominik Szoboszlai in a 4-2-3-1 formation, similar to the setup against Brighton.
Salah could also play in a forward role, although Hugo Ekitike is currently preferred in that position.
After the Brighton match, Slot emphasized that the issue from the Leeds incident had been resolved, stating that Salah would have to earn his place back in the starting eleven, just like any other player. "For me, he’s now the same as any other player," Slot remarked. When asked if Salah indicated a desire to stay, Slot replied, "I think you already know the answer to that."
The consensus is that Salah will remain a Liverpool player until at least the summer, where he is expected to lead Egypt at the World Cup. What happens beyond that is uncertain, as Salah is a player who seeks to start matches and is unlikely to be satisfied with a bench role. Observing Mane, who plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia and shares the same birth year as Salah, thriving in his career also suggests that a move to the Middle East could be a feasible option for Salah.