Liverpool will be without Mohamed Salah for up to eight games due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations. The numbers reveal the impact of his absence as he has scored 16 goals in all competitions this season, aiming to maintain his record of seven consecutive seasons netting 20 or more for the Reds. After the New Year’s Day game against Newcastle, he will captain the Egypt squad in the tournament, hoping to repeat their 2021 final run. Salah has scored 30.8% of Liverpool’s Premier League goals this season, ranking seventh in the category, with his 19 goal contributions accounting for 48.7% of all the team’s 39 goals. He has also recorded the most assists in Europe’s top five leagues for the year 2023. If Egypt progresses in the AFCON, Salah will miss a minimum of four games and up to eight.
On January 7, Arsenal (A) will face off against Liverpool in the FA Cup third round. Three days later, on January 10, Liverpool will host Fulham (H) in the Carabao Cup semi-final. On January 21, Liverpool will play Bournemouth (A) in the Premier League, followed by another Carabao Cup semi-final against Fulham (A) on January 24. If Salah’s country progresses, he will also miss matches against Chelsea on January 31, Arsenal on February 4, Burnley on February 10, and a potential fourth-round FA Cup tie. Fans can expect him to return for the game against Brentford on February 17. Salah’s absence will leave a significant gap on the right-wing, and it remains to be seen who will fill his position. Despite this setback, Liverpool will strive to maintain their form in all competitions until Salah’s return.
