Despite speculation of a move, Mohamed Salah is set to return to Liverpool soon after Egypt crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations, with his availability once again becoming relevant to discussions around Premier League winner odds as the domestic season intensifies. Senegal knocked Egypt out in the semi-final, bringing Salah’s international break to a close and paving the way for his return to Merseyside.
When could Salah return?
Egypt are still involved in the third-place match against Nigeria on Saturday. While Salah might not be selected for the squad, he’ll likely stay with the team until the tournament wraps up. That means the earliest he could return to the UK is Sunday, 18 January, leaving Liverpool with limited time for his recovery and reintegration.
Salah has already played 480 minutes across the tournament and scored five goals, showing just how important he’s been to Egypt and the physical demands he’s faced. Given that workload, Liverpool will hope he returns rested rather than being rushed straight back into action.
Potential return dates for Liverpool
If his recovery goes smoothly, Salah could feature in the Champions League fixture against Marseille on 21 January. But if that’s too soon, a more realistic comeback would be the Premier League match against Bournemouth on 24 January.
Slot will assess him day by day, weighing up the need for his quality against the risk of fatigue after such a demanding tournament. The coaching staff will need to balance getting him back on the pitch with ensuring he’s properly recovered.
Addressing the speculation
Talk around Salah’s future started before he even left for AFCON. Reports suggested tensions between Salah and Arne Slot, mainly over reduced game time and his role in the new system. That led some to wonder whether AFCON could mark a natural break point and whether Salah might not return to Liverpool at all – a narrative that quickly filtered into wider debate and football tips discussions.
Those rumours grew during the tournament, with further links to a potential move to Saudi Arabia in the January window. However, there has been no formal approach, and little to suggest Liverpool were ever open to talks.
Given his importance, contract situation, and the lack of realistic mid-season replacements, a January move was never really on the cards. The absence of serious interest shows the talk was driven more by headlines than reality.
Why his return matters
Liverpool have struggled for consistency this season in the Premier League, but they have managed to climb back up to fourth place. With Salah returning, they’ll hope to stabilise performances and stay firmly in the Champions League qualification spots.
His return brings goals, experience, and control at a point in the season where small margins can make all the difference to final league positions. Liverpool’s attack has lacked its usual spark without him.
What happens next?
Slot needs to decide how quickly to bring Salah back and how best to manage his workload. For Salah, it’s straightforward: return, deliver on the pitch, and let his performances do the talking rather than let rumours shape the narrative.
With AFCON nearly over and January moving on, Liverpool will hope Salah’s return helps keep their momentum going in the weeks ahead.
