Mohamed Salah has departed Liverpool for Egypt duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving Arne Slot without his talisman during a critical phase of the Premier League title race. The timing could not be more significant.
Salah's irreplaceable output
The statistics underline why Salah's absence represents such a significant blow. The Egyptian has been the league's most decisive attacker this season, combining goal scoring with elite chance creation in a manner no other Premier League player matches.
His departure removes Liverpool's primary attacking threat at a time when every point matters. The Reds currently sit second, chasing league leaders Arsenal, and the fixtures during AFCON will test their credentials without their most important player.
Egypt's AFCON schedule
Egypt face Zimbabwe, South Africa and Angola in Group C. As one of the tournament favourites, they are expected to progress comfortably to the knockout rounds, meaning Salah's absence could extend well beyond the group stage.
Should Egypt reach the semi-finals – which bookmakers anticipate – Salah would miss up to six or seven Premier League matches. A run to the final on January 18 would maximise the impact on Liverpool's season.
Slot's options without Salah
The challenge for Slot extends beyond simply replacing Salah's goals. Liverpool's entire attacking structure has been built around the Egyptian's ability to stretch defences, occupy defenders and create overloads on the right flank.
Federico Chiesa offers the most natural replacement, though his stop-start integration and recent illness raise questions about match sharpness. Diogo Jota could shift to the right, with Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz forming a more mobile front line.
Neither solution replicates what Salah provides. His movement, decision-making in the final third and consistent end product have been refined over eight seasons at Anfield.
The title race implications
Liverpool's AFCON-period fixtures include trips to Tottenham, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, alongside home matches against Leicester and Ipswich. The quality of opposition varies, but without Salah, even supposedly favourable fixtures become more challenging.
Arsenal and Aston Villa – Liverpool's closest pursuers – have no players departing for AFCON. This scheduling disparity could prove decisive in the title race, with the Gunners and Villa able to maintain full-strength squads throughout the tournament period.
Beyond football
For Salah personally, AFCON represents an opportunity to add the one major honour missing from his trophy cabinet. Egypt last won the tournament in 2010, and their talismanic forward will be determined to deliver continental glory before returning to club duties.
Liverpool must simply survive the absence and hope their squad depth proves sufficient. The next month will reveal whether Slot has built a team capable of winning the title, or one that remains dependent on its Egyptian king.
