Salah’s New Deal Brings Relief—but Not All of Liverpool’s Problems Are Solved
Mohamed Salah’s contract saga has finally reached its conclusion, with the Egyptian forward signing a new two-year extension that keeps him at Anfield until 2027. While this offers some stability for Liverpool, it doesn’t solve all of Arne Slot’s challenges heading into next season.
Despite uncertainty around the futures of other key players like Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold—who is widely tipped to join Real Madrid—Liverpool have remained focused, cruising toward what could be their second Premier League title of the modern era.
Salah, now 32, remains the club’s most prolific attacker and is leading all players across Europe’s top five leagues in both goals and assists this season. His continued presence is a boost, but Liverpool will still face a major headache in 2025.
AFCON and Club World Cup to Disrupt Salah’s Season
Due to changes in the global football calendar, Salah is expected to miss up to ten matches next season—including as many as six in the Premier League. This is because of the rescheduled Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup, which has forced CAF to keep AFCON in its usual winter slot.
Originally played in January and February, AFCON has shifted in format several times. The 2025 edition, set to take place in Morocco from December 21 to January 18, now lands in the heart of the Premier League’s most congested period.
CAF had hoped to move the tournament to the summer months, but the new Club World Cup—set for summer 2025 in the U.S.—has prevented that switch. As a result, AFCON will clash directly with a packed domestic schedule in England.
Impact Could Be Significant for Liverpool
According to The Mirror‘s Felix Keith, based on this season’s fixtures, Salah’s absence could stretch across six Premier League games, plus one each in the Champions League and FA Cup, and two in the Carabao Cup. That’s a significant portion of the season without Liverpool’s star man.
While Liverpool are familiar with navigating AFCON absences—having done so in previous seasons—Slot will need to plan carefully. Salah’s new contract secures his presence long-term, but it also reaffirms the need for depth and succession planning on the right flank as Liverpool prepares for a season filled with both promise and disruption.
