Mohammed Salah: Liverpool in talks with Egypt and over early AFCON release | OneFootball

Star forward could miss eight Reds games

Liverpool remain in talks with Egypt over when Mohamed Salah will be released for the Africa Cup of Nations.

That includes key away trips to Tottenham and Arsenal over the festive period.

Egypt begin their tournament on December 22 against Zimbabwe before facing South Africa on Boxing Day and then concluding their group-stage campaign against Angola.

The tournament runs through to the final on January 18. Should Egypt make it that far, Salah's Premier League return would likely come on January 24 against Bournemouth.

However, Egypt are hoping to also have Salah available for a friendly against Nigeria on December 14 as they finalise their preparations.

That would rule Salah out of being involved in Liverpool's match at home to Brighton on December 13.

Egypt want Mo Salah to play Nigeria in a friendly on December 13

AFP via Getty Images

Similar discussions are also taking place between Egypt and Manchester City over Omar Marmoush's availability.

"We are still in contact with Liverpool and Manchester City at the moment for this matter," Ibrahim Hassan, the director of the Egypt team, said.

Salah played the full match on Friday as Egypt were beaten by Uzbekistan in the UAE.

He was also set to feature against Cape Verde on Monday, however Egypt have made the decision to rest Salah in what is welcome news for Liverpool.

Salah scored 34 goals in all competitions for his club last season but has struggled to rediscover that kind of form this term.

He will still be crucial to Egypt's hopes of a first AFCON title since 2010. No country has won the tournament more than Egypt, but it is now 16 years since they were champions three times in a row.

Salah has twice made it to the final, in 2017 and 2021, but is yet to get his hands on the trophy.