When Mohamed Salah will return to Liverpool after AFCON heartache

Mohamed Salah traveled to the Africa Cup of Nations eyeing glory for the first time in his international career, but he is heading back to Liverpool after ending the tournament with back-to-back defeats

Mohamed Salah is returning to Liverpool(Image: AFP or licensors)

Mohamed Salah’s Africa Cup of Nations ended in disappointing fashion, as Egypt lost back-to-back games to end the tournament in fourth position.

Egypt's defeat by Senegal in last week's semi-final meant that the best Salah and Co could hope for was a third-place finish, but Egypt lost the third-place play-off to Nigeria on Saturday.

The game between Egypt and Nigeria ended in a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes, with Nigeria winning on penalties after Salah and Omar Marmoush missed from 12 yards.

Salah will now return to Merseyside to resume his club season, and many Liverpool fans will surely be wondering when he could return to action for Arne Slot's squad.

In a press conference last week, Slot said that a decision was yet to be taken on whether Salah would be involved in this week's Champions League game away to Marseille.

"He's due back next week," Slot said. "We're in talks with him over what we expect over here. That (whether he will be available against Marseille) is something we're talking with him about."

Slot was also asked whether he had spoken with Salah since Egypt's loss to Senegal in the last four and responded: "What happened between Mo and me stays between the two of us. I don't think it is necessary to share private messages."

(Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto)

Slot said that he was pleased that he would soon have Salah at his disposal once again, as it will ease his selection issues in attack.

Alexander Isak is currently injured, while Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo have also had spells on the sidelines in recent weeks.

"I'm happy that he comes back because Mo has been so important for this club," Slot said. "Even if I had 15 attackers, I still would have been happy if he came back, but that's not our current situation.

"I'm happy to have him back after an important game he has to play for Egypt."

If Salah is not involved when the Reds travel to Marseille, his next opportunity to play will come at Bournemouth next Saturday.

Liverpool travels to the South Coast for a 5.30pm GMT kick-off at the Vitality Stadium, targeting a first Premier League win of 2026 after starting the year with four successive top-flight draws, against Leeds, Fulham, Arsenal and Burnley.