Liverpool have confirmed the exact date Mohamed Salah will depart for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), meaning the Egyptian star will miss Egypt’s pre-tournament friendly.
Rumors had suggested Salah might leave early after Egypt scheduled a friendly against Nigeria on December 14—just one day after his team hosts Brighton at Anfield in the Premier League.
However, manager Slot confirmed that all internationals will be available for the Brighton match. He explained that the decision regarding Salah’s departure was made in consultation with the Egyptian Football Association (FA) and the club.
“The way we have worked is that there’s a communication between all three – the player, the club, and the country,” Slot said. “That’s nothing new. But FIFA have said December 15 is the last day a player has to be released.”
Salah has struggled for form under Slot this season and has faced criticism as the team’s results have suffered. Despite being one of the key players, he has only managed five goals and three assists in 17 appearances so far. His recent dip in form saw him left on the bench during Sunday’s win over West Ham, highlighting the challenges he has faced in maintaining consistency this campaign.
When asked if Salah was frustrated about being benched, Slot said:
“Fair assumption and normal reaction for someone who can play for Liverpool. Of course, a player isn’t happy he isn’t playing. He wasn’t the only one, I can tell you.”
The manager praised Salah’s professionalism, adding:
“The way he behaved was as you would expect from the professional he is. He was very supportive of his teammates at Liverpool and handled himself really well. You can’t play that well every three days if you go with your emotions, but Mo is so disciplined. He will always be that top professional, as he has been in the last few days at Liverpool.”
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