When Mohamed Salah will return to Liverpool after AFCON semi-final loss

The Egyptian king battled Morocco's heat and intensity, carrying a nation's hopes, but continental glory ended in heartbreak. Now, focus shifts from AFCON duty to English Premier League dominance. For the Anfield faithful, anticipation builds. Mohamed Salah return to the squad will not just boost the morale of the team but also add an extra option for manager Arne Slot up front. Post-AFCON semi-final, one question echoes in Merseyside: When will Mo Salah for Liverpool grace the hallowed turf again?

Tangier Heartbreak: Salah's AFCON Agony

Mohamed Salah's 2025 Africa Cup of Nations journey showcased endurance and leadership, but agony struck Wednesday. In a tense semi-final classic, Egypt lost to Senegal. Despite Salah's tireless runs and creative spark, the Pharaohs could not breach a stubborn defence. The trophy he craves most slipped away.

Salah shone throughout, dropping deep to orchestrate or terrorising wings. His work lingers: Egypt faces Nigeria in the third-place playoff on Saturday, January 17. This delays the Mohamed Salah return by days.

When Will Salah Be Back in Red?

Fans crave Mo Salah for Liverpool on the pitch, but the playoff rules him out of Saturday's Premier League clash vs Burnley. Captaining Egypt one last time on January 17, his flight to Merseyside follows on January 18 (barring rest). He might squad up for the Champions League tie vs Marseille on January 21, though starting seems unlikely post-recovery. Realistic full return to the XI? January 24 vs Bournemouth.

A Hole in the Squad: How Salah Was Missed

The lack of Egyptian forward Mo Salah for Liverpool has been particularly evident, despite Arne Slot team's best efforts to grind out wins. Although the team has shown character in fighting through in the FA Cup while remaining competitive in the league, they have lacked that special “X-factor” only Salah brings to the table.

Without him, the Reds have not had the petrifying pass on the breakthrough attack nor the clinical composure in the box to turn draws into victories. The players have had to grind harder for the chances that Mo Salah has been able to conjure up out of nothing. The influence of Mo Salah for Liverpool extends beyond the box, into the realm of fear factor, and Liverpool will be welcome to it back.

Manager Arne Slot will be very eager to limit the minutes of Mohamed Salah as he readies his comeback to the team. The pace Salah's comeback will be gradual in the first week of his comeback. A sub appearance for the team against Marseille can help him feel the pitch at Anfield as well as get the adoration of the fans without any risk of injury.