A comprehensive list of Liverpool matches in the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup that Mohamed Salah could potentially miss if the Egypt international takes part in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
For all the jaw-dropping numbers Mohamed Salah has produced during his Liverpool career, the numbers surrounding his unwavering willingness are perhaps the most impressive.
Since Salah made his Merseyside debut in the summer of 2017, no attacking player in any of Europe’s top five leagues has amassed more best minutes, appearing in 89% of Liverpool’s Premier League matches.
To make these numbers even more staggering, it should be noted that Salah led Egypt to the final of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which took place midway through the 2021/22 season.
The tournament ended in heartbreak for Salah as he suffered a second final defeat in four years.
With all available club trophies already collected, Salah will have a chance to win his first international tournament again at AFCON 2023 next season.
Here’s everything you need to know about how Salah’s involvement in the league could lead to some rare absences for Liverpool.
When is AFCON 2023?
Deceptively, AFCON 2023 is scheduled after the end of 2023, with the continental jamboree taking place between January 13, 2024 and February 11, 2024 in Ivory Coast.
The exact dates for each match in the group stage and knockout stage will be finalized once the draw takes place on 12 October 2023.
When clubs will be forced to release players in their own national team also remains uncertain, but Salah played for Liverpool a week before the start of AFCON 2021
Egypt – five-time winners of the competition before Salah’s debut – are sure to play at least three group stage matches, but have reached the final in five of the last six tournaments.
Liverpool Mohamed Salah matches could be missed due to 2023 AFCON
Liverpool Premier League matches during AFCON 2023
Date
Time
Lighting fixture
01/13/2024
3pm
Bournemouth-Liverpool
01/31/2024
8:00 pm
Liverpool-Chelsea
03/02/2024
3pm
Arsenal versus Liverpool
02/10/2024
3pm
Should Salah’s Egypt qualify for the final of the continental competition, Liverpool, top scorer in the last six seasons, will miss at least four Premier League games.
Salah can feel a slight sense of relief as he is all but guaranteed to miss Liverpool’s trip to Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium which falls on the same day as the start of the Nations Cup.
Last season, Salah shot a penalty horribly wide as Liverpool lost 1-0 on the south coast.
The fiery and enduring Egyptian is expected to be available for Liverpool’s season opener against Chelsea on Sunday 13 August 2023, but could miss the reverse fixture against his former employers at Anfield at the end of January.
Liverpool will also travel to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium during Salah’s potential spell out.
The Gunners lost just two Premier League home games in all of last season, beating Liverpool 3-2 in a thrilling match in the capital last October.
Salah could return to Merseyside or prepare for the AFCON final when Liverpool host Burnley on 10 February 2024, the day before the highlight of the tournament.
Potential Liverpool FA Cup matches at AFCON 2023
Spin
Date
Fourth round
01/27/2024
Liverpool’s FA Cup third round – which will be the club’s first competition match of next season – takes place over the weekend of Saturday 6 January 2024. This could very well be the last club match Salah faces. squad. Village.
However, should the Reds qualify for the fourth round – which they have done in 11 of the last 12 seasons – they could be without their winger talisman.
Potential Liverpool Carabao Cup matches at AFCON 2023
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Date
First leg semifinal
08/01/2024
Return semifinal
01/21/2024
Liverpool have won the English secondary cup more times than any other club in the country (nine times). However, Jürgen Klopp has only sent the Reds to the semi-finals once in the last six seasons.
If Liverpool make it to the bottom four of the 2023-24 Carabao Cup, Salah’s involvement looks unlikely.
The semi-final first leg is scheduled for the week commencing 8 January 2024, with matches traditionally played during the week.
That would give Salah less than seven days to fly to Ivory Coast and join his national team before the tournament kicks off.
The second leg – scheduled for the week of 21 January 2024 – is likely to take place in the middle of the AFCON group stage.
Potential Liverpool Europa League matches during AFCON 2023
While Salah could miss a total of seven domestic matches, AFCON will be all but complete when Europa League football resumes for the knockout stages.
If Liverpool win their European group, they will earn a bye to the round of 16, which doesn’t start until Thursday 7 March 2024. From the Champions League, the first leg is scheduled for Thursday 15 February 2024.
The AFCON Final could take place on Sunday February 11, but Salah has shown that he is very capable of a quick change.
Four days after losing their 2022 masterpiece to Senegal, Salah came off the bench for Liverpool in a 2-0 win over Leicester.
Although he only played half an hour, Salah has had more shots on target than any other player on the pitch. No wonder Klopp calls it a “machine.”
