Liverpool Faces Anxious Wait as Mohamed Salah's Egypt AFCON Duty Looms Large

Liverpool are said to be preparing for another standoff with Egyptian authorities regarding their star striker Mohamed Salah's availability before the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

The competition begins on December 21st, and Liverpool understand they will be without Salah during the holiday season, but the main dispute centers around Egypt's tournament preparation schedule and Salah's involvement.

A preparation camp is scheduled to commence on December 8th, followed by a pre-competition friendly match against Nigeria six days afterwards. Egyptian officials will likely want Salah to join the squad as early as possible, whereas Liverpool prefer to retain him for as long as they can.

Representatives from Liverpool and Egypt had a similar disagreement two years prior, and according to the Daily Mail, another confrontation appears imminent.

Salah himself reportedly wants to postpone joining the training camp to maximize his appearances for Liverpool. The Merseyside club has a challenging Champions League fixture away to Inter on December 9th and a Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion shortly after.

The forward aims to depart Liverpool following the Brighton fixture, but a compromise must be negotiated between club and national team. Salah is anticipated to engage in official discussions with Egypt coach Hossam Hassan during the next international window to present his argument.

If Salah manages to postpone his departure, he may still be absent for up to eight matches during a vital stretch of Arne Slot's campaign.

Salah will certainly be unavailable for the away fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on December 20th, while January's home encounter with Arsenal will also be too early unless Egypt suffers an unexpected group stage exit. The Africa Cup of Nations concludes on January 18th.

The Liverpool Games Mohamed Salah Could Miss at AFCON