Mohamed Salah has long been Liverpool’s immovable force — the lightning burst down the right flank, the eruption of Anfield behind him, the ice-cold finish that turns tension into euphoria. But now, the Reds’ greatest modern icon is preparing to step away, and Anfield is bracing itself for a future that suddenly feels far less predictable.
The Egyptian forward is due for crucial talks with national team manager Hossam Hassan next week. What comes out of that meeting will likely determine how long Liverpool must cope without their most decisive attacker. With the Africa Cup of Nations approaching, Salah’s international duties are taking center stage, and he could miss eight or more key fixtures during one of the most pivotal stretches of Liverpool’s season.
And to many supporters, it already feels like the beginning of a goodbye.
At 33, Salah is once again caught between the demands of his club and the expectations of his country. Egypt will soon begin their AFCON preparations with warm-up matches against the UAE on December 6, Jordan on December 9, and Nigeria on December 14. Meanwhile, Liverpool face a congested December schedule that includes Premier League clashes with Leeds and Brighton, along with a crucial Champions League tie against Inter Milan.
Both sides want him. Both believe they need him. And Salah — deeply loyal to both Liverpool and Egypt — is caught in the middle of a tug-of-war that may finally pull him away from Anfield sooner than the club hoped.
AFCON will run from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco, and unlike previous international windows, Liverpool have no avenue to delay his release. In 2023, the club successfully kept him for additional rest and recovery, sparking fury in Egypt’s press. This time, there will be no negotiations. Salah will travel — the only uncertainty is the date.
If Egypt request his full participation in training and friendlies, Liverpool may lose him before the Brighton game on December 13. In the harshest scenario, Salah could miss:
- Tottenham (Premier League)
- Wolves (Premier League)
- Leeds (Premier League)
- Fulham (Premier League)
- Arsenal (Premier League)
- Burnley (Premier League)
- Marseille (Champions League)
- FA Cup Third Round
This isn’t a minor absence. It’s a potential season-defining blow.
Emotionally, it’s even heavier. Those close to Salah say he wants his Liverpool chapter to end at the highest level — fighting for league titles, pushing deep in Europe, leaving as the champion he believes he still is. He doesn’t want conflict with his club. He doesn’t want to leave Egypt disappointed. But he’s starting to recognize that keeping everyone satisfied may no longer be possible.
Despite talk of his future — whether that means Saudi Arabia, MLS, or another destination — Salah remains completely committed when he steps onto the pitch. Five goals and three assists in 15 appearances show he hasn’t faded, and scoring in back-to-back league matches has reminded everyone that his brilliance hasn’t deserted him.
Yet supporters see what’s coming.
The farewell isn’t theoretical anymore. It’s creeping toward Anfield, preparing its moment.
If Egypt advance deep into the tournament, Salah might not return until late January, potentially rejoining the squad for the trip to Bournemouth on the 24th. And depending on Liverpool’s form in his absence, the landscape of the season could look drastically different.
For a player who built his legacy with relentless consistency and historic achievements, this feels like the start of something emotional: not necessarily the final goodbye, but the moment fans begin to accept that life after Salah is coming.
Because Salah hasn’t only worn the Liverpool shirt.
For years, he embodied Liverpool.
And now, for the first time in a long time, the club must start imagining what it means to move forward without him.
