Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Mohamed Salah confirms when he will leave Liverpool after Egypt talks over early AFCON release

Mohamed Salah remains on course to leave Liverpool for the Africa Cup of Nations after this weekend’s Premier League match against Brighton.

Egypt have booked a pre-tournament friendly against Nigeria for December 14, the day after Liverpool welcome the Seagulls to Anfield, and they had hoped to have Salah available for selection.

However, Arne Slot revealed last week that Liverpool had made the decision in conjunction with the Egyptian FA to release the 33-year-old on December 15.

“The way we have worked is that there's a communication between all three - the player, the club and country,” he explained.

“That's nothing new. But FIFA have said December 15 is the last day a player has to be released.”

Salah’s future has since been plunged into serious doubt following his outburst after the 3-3 draw with Leeds at the weekend where he suggested he could leave in the January transfer window - just months after signing a new contract.

Though, any chance of a potential u-turn that would see Salah link up with Egypt earlier than expected has been dashed with the forward himself confirming he will be present for Liverpool’s game against Brighton.

“At Anfield I will say ‘goodbye’ to the supporters, because I am going to [AFCON],” he told reporters.

“I don't know what will happen when I am there.”

Mohamed Salah is expected to miss Liverpool vs Brighton (AFP via Getty Images)

Whether Salah features remains to be seen. BBC Sport have reported he is likely to miss the Brighton game after being left out of the squad to face Inter Milan in the Champions League.

When quizzed as to whether Salah will be involved at the weekend, Slot said: “We are sitting here on an evening before a big game, a big fixture for us, Inter Milan.

“There was only now maybe 36 hours between the moment we have conceded the 3-3 against Leeds and the moment I'm sitting here.

“I think you can understand as well that I've tried to prepare my team in the best possible way for the game tomorrow evening.

“The most thoughts that I had are about tomorrow and, in the meantime, we've decided what I've just said - not to take him with us to this game.

“After tomorrow we will look at the situation again.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.