Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is expected to hold talks with Egyptian manager Hossam Hassan next week as both sides try to avoid another club-versus-country flashpoint ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Egypt plan to call up their captain for a friendly against Nigeria on December 14, part of a preparation period that also includes games against the UAE (December 6) and Jordan (December 9).
The problem for Liverpool is that this window overlaps with three important matches: Inter Milan in the Champions League, followed by Leeds United and Brighton in the Premier League.
According to the Daily Mail, Salah would prefer to stay on Merseyside for those matches rather than travel early for a non-league match. Liverpool share that view and are hopeful that an agreement can be reached that will allow him to leave after the game against Brighton on December 13.
Arne Slot already knows that Salah will be absent for a number of weeks during AFCON, which starts on December 21 and could keep the attacker away until January 18 if Egypt reaches the final.
In a worst-case scenario, Liverpool could be without him for eight games, including league games with Tottenham, Wolves, Leeds, Fulham, Arsenal and Burnley, as well as an FA Cup tie and a Champions League trip to Marseille.
Slot is expected to rely mainly on Federico Chiesa during that period, while Florian Wirtz is another option and Jeremy Frimpong is still working his way back from injury. The reshuffling has already begun, with Wirtz operating from the left for Cody Gakpo in the midweek win over Real Madrid.
But despite experimenting, Slot remains reluctant to miss Salah earlier than necessary. The 31-year-old has not consistently reached his usual standards this season, but Liverpool’s staff still value his presence, experience and influence on a side that has undergone significant changes since the summer.
Two years ago, Liverpool wrote to the Egyptian Football Association asking for Salah to be released from an international camp due to long-term health concerns, a situation neither side wants to repeat. This time the talks are being described as ‘crunch discussions’, with both Liverpool and Salah wanting to avoid unnecessary friction.
Egypt has the right, according to FIFA rules, to call him up for the camp. But as Liverpool enter a period that will shape their Champions League and league campaigns, they will hope Hassan will provide some flexibility.
Salah has scored five goals and three assists in 15 games this season and has scored in his last two Premier League games. His performances at times suggested a player looking for rhythm, but the underlying numbers remain strong and the expectation within the club is that his form will sharpen as familiarity with new team-mates increases.
With Alexander Isak, Wirtz and Chiesa all integrating into a new-look attack, Liverpool expect improvement as relationships develop. But Slot sees Salah as central to that process, and not as a passenger in it.
The hope now is that next week’s talks will provide clarity and avoid a conflict that neither Liverpool nor Egypt want to see repeated.
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