Liverpool is navigating turbulent days regarding the immediate future of Mohamed Salah, and manager Arne Slot has stepped in to put an end to the speculation. The Dutchman admitted that benching the Egyptian against West Ham was “not pleasant at all,” while confirming the exact date Salah will join his national team for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Salah leaves on December 15 and could miss up to six Premier League matches

Slot was clear: Salah will travel to join Egypt on December 15, though he acknowledged that discussions between all parties are still ongoing.
“There’s always a player, a country and a club involved. Conversations are ongoing. Nothing new,” the manager explained ahead of the clash with Sunderland.

Salah’s last game before departing could be against Brighton & Hove Albion, before heading to a tournament that may keep him out for over a month. If Egypt reaches the final, Salah could miss up to six Premier League games, including crucial fixtures against Arsenal and Tottenham.

His absence comes at a delicate moment for a Liverpool side fighting for the top, and with a Salah who has scored only five goals this season (one from the penalty spot), far from the 29 goals and 18 assists he delivered last year.

Slot admits tension after benching him: “It wasn’t pleasant for anyone”

The manager also addressed the uproar caused by his decision to leave Salah on the bench against West Ham.
“It wasn’t pleasant for him, for a Liverpool fan, or for me,” Slot admitted. “A player that important, you want to see him on the pitch. I’d rather watch him score goals and do something special than see him on camera sitting.”

Despite the frustration, Slot stressed that Salah’s attitude was exemplary.
“Salah is tremendously disciplined. He knows exactly what he needs to do to stay fit. He’s been a model professional these past days.”

The situation, however, was not the result of punishment or any internal conflict. Slot insisted that the decision was based on physical load management and a desire to test tactical variations, though he admitted he was not entirely satisfied with the experiment.

Egypt dreams of its first title since 2010

The national team led by Hossam Hassan will share a group with South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe, and Salah will look to finally lift the Africa Cup after losing the finals in 2017 and 2021.

Liverpool, meanwhile, will have to reshape its attack in the middle of a title race while its biggest star pulls on his country’s shirt once again.