Liverpool's Mohamed Salah could miss 10 matches after new FIFA decision
Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract with Liverpool, but that won't prevent a familiar problem from rearing its head in the 2025/26 season after a controversial FIFA decision
Liverpool have been abuzz with celebration after securing star player Mohamed Salah on a new contract, yet they can't dodge the historical issue it brings. The club proudly announced last week that Salah has committed to fresh terms, which reportedly sees him remain at Anfield until June 2027, guaranteeing Liverpool at least two more peak years from the Egyptian forward.
Salah's current season could easily be pinned as his most impressive in a Liverpool shirt, boasting 32 goals and 23 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions. Not only is he on the brink of clinching the Premier League Golden Boot, but he's also shattered Thierry Henry's previous tally by amassing 45 goal involvements this campaign.
The 32-year-old winger decided to extend his stay with Liverpool partly due to the strides the team has made under Arne Slot's leadership. In his words: "I signed because I think we have a chance to win other trophies and enjoy my football.
"It's great, I had my best years here. I played eight years, hopefully it's going to be 10."
With ambitions high for the 2025/26 season, Liverpool nonetheless face an all-too-common hurdle: the Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament habitually snatches Salah away, similarly to how it used to with former Red Sadio Mane, as they depart to honour national team commitments mid-season, reports the Mirror.
Last season, Salah was absent for five games after travelling to the Ivory Coast to represent Egypt. His absence was further extended by a hamstring injury he sustained while on international duty, causing him to miss an additional seven matches for Liverpool.
Upon his return, he struggled to regain his top form.
Inevitably, injuries are beyond control, but the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is set to cause significant disruption next season due to its shift from the usual January-February slot to December and January. The tournament will be held in Morocco from December 21 to January 18.
This change was made to avoid clashing with FIFA's new expanded Club World Cup, which will take place from June 15 to July 13 in the United States.
While this may not pose a problem for many European leagues that observe a winter break, it could create issues for Premier League clubs with African players. Egypt, who have been placed in Group B, have matches scheduled against Zimbabwe on December 22, South Africa on Boxing Day, and Angola on December 29 for their final group game.
As the most successful team in AFCON history, boasting seven titles, Egypt are expected to progress to the later stages of the tournament. The round-of-16 is slated for January 3-6, followed by the quarter-finals on January 9-10, the semi-finals on January 14, the third-place play-off on January 17, and the final in Rabat on January 18.
The Premier League won't unveil its 2025/26 fixtures until June 18, but the festive period is the busiest in the calendar, indicating that Salah is bound to miss some crucial matches, depending on the schedule and Egypt's performance in Morocco. Using Liverpool's current season schedule as a reference, AFCON would coincide with eight games, including six in the Premier League.
This number could increase to 10 when considering the preceding fixture for travel time to the tournament and a game after the AFCON final for return and potential rest.
Liverpool are no strangers to managing AFCON absences in recent years and will be aware of the need to prepare for its impact. Slot recognises the importance of squad depth and will direct sporting director Richard Hughes and his team to secure back-up in the summer transfer window, to ensure Salah's absence doesn't disrupt their 2025/25 campaign.