What Lies Ahead for Salah Following Disappointment in Morocco?

As the final whistle blew in Tangier, Mohamed Salah displayed no overt signs of emotion, despite Egypt’s exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) at the semi-final stage. A faint smile crossed his face, but it likely masked a deep sense of disillusionment.

Once again, Salah’s national team fell short in their pursuit of the Afcon title, succumbing to a defeat at the hands of Senegal, led by his former Liverpool colleague, Sadio Mane.

Throughout the five matches that Salah participated in during the tournament, the 33-year-old forward netted four goals, showcasing his vital role in guiding Egypt to the semi-finals.

Following their quarter-final triumph over the Ivory Coast, Salah eagerly hailed the experience as the best team camp he had ever been part of. He remarked, “We’re all very close, we genuinely care for one another, our camaraderie is fantastic, and we put in hard work both on and off the field.”

After the third-place playoff against Nigeria in Casablanca, Salah is anticipated to journey back to Merseyside, where uncertainties about his future continue to linger.

Salah’s last competitive appearance for Liverpool occurred on November 26, during a Champions League match against PSV, a contest that ended in a 4-1 defeat for the Reds. Since that loss, Liverpool has remained unbeaten across eleven matches (6 wins, 5 draws), although their style of play has drawn criticism. Slot even acknowledged last week that some observers described Liverpool’s performances as “tedious and uninspiring.”

Moreover, it has been over a month since Salah delivered a candid interview at Leeds, where he accused Liverpool of “throwing him under the bus” after being benched for three consecutive games, expressing that his rapport with Slot had deteriorated.

Although he was subsequently excluded from Liverpool’s match against Inter Milan, he faced no disciplinary action and returned to the lineup against Brighton, stepping onto the pitch in the first half after Joe Gomez sustained an injury.

In that match, Salah provided an assist in the second half and received a warm welcome from the Anfield supporters, who sang his praises, fondly referring to him as their “Egyptian King.” Following the game, he took time to acknowledge fans in all sections of the stadium.

Slot later asserted that there were “no issues to address,” with Curtis Jones confirming that Salah had apologized to his teammates regarding the fallout from his interview.

During Salah’s absence, Liverpool has not suffered any defeats, but they did lose striker Alexander Isak to a lower leg injury, sidelining him until at least March. Additionally, defender Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.

So, when can we expect Salah to don the Liverpool jersey again? According to FIFA regulations, players must stay with their national teams until the morning following their final match, which means Salah will not be available for Liverpool’s game against Burnley this Saturday.

Due to Egypt’s participation in the third-place playoff, Salah will return to the UK on Sunday. Liverpool is likely to announce their plans for his reintegration after Egypt concludes its Afcon campaign, with Slot expected to provide updates in his upcoming press conference.

It is probable that Salah will rejoin the Liverpool squad for their Champions League fixture against Marseille next week. The team will face Roberto de Zerbi’s side on Wednesday, followed by a Premier League match against Bournemouth the following Saturday.

What does the future hold for Salah? Before the semi-final defeat, he expressed, “No one desires this title more than I do. I’ve achieved everything in football except this one, and the pressure has been weighing on me for quite some time.”

Having endured criticism after Egypt’s exit in the round of 16 during the 2023 tournament due to injury, Salah has yet to capture the Afcon title. In 2021, he did not even get a chance to take a penalty in the final, as he was the fifth shooter, while Mane converted the decisive spot-kick to secure the title for Senegal.

He may have another opportunity to fulfill his dreams in the summer of 2027, when the next edition of Afcon will be held across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. By that time, Salah will be 35 years old, with his current Liverpool contract set to expire during the same summer, although he remains in outstanding physical condition.

In the immediate future, Liverpool will welcome Salah back, especially given their current injury predicament. With Bradley unavailable, Jeremie Frimpong is likely to fill in at right-back, allowing Salah to potentially reclaim his position on the right flank unless Slot opts for Dominik Szoboszlai in a 4-2-3-1 formation, as seen in the match against Brighton.

Salah could also play as a striker, though Hugo Ekitike is currently the preferred choice in that position. After the Brighton match, Slot made it clear that the situation regarding Salah’s availability for selection had been resolved, emphasizing that the player would need to earn his place back in the starting lineup, just like any other member of the squad.

“For me, he’s now just like any other player,” Slot stated. When asked if Salah had indicated a desire to remain, Slot replied, “I think you already know the answer to that.”

It appears that Salah will continue as a Liverpool player at least until the summer, where he is expected to lead the Egyptian national team at the World Cup. However, what transpires beyond that remains uncertain. Salah is a player who thrives on starting matches and will not be satisfied with a role on the bench. Observing Mane thrive at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, despite being born in the same year as Salah, suggests that a move to the Middle East might be a plausible option for him in the future.