“Liverpool’s future could unfold without Mo Salah next season, despite locking him into a fresh two-year deal.”

“Liverpool may face a future without Mo Salah next season, even after securing him on a new two-year deal.”

Liverpool must brace for a future without Mo Salah next season, despite the star winger recently committing to a two-year contract extension.

Following months of uncertainty about his future, the 32-year-old signed a deal last week that secures his place at Anfield until at least 2027, much to the delight of Reds fans.

However, Salah will be 35 when his contract ends, and even before that, manager Arne Slot will need to prepare for life without the Egyptian forward on the right wing.

Salah to miss games due to AFCON

According to the Daily Express, Salah is expected to miss a significant portion of the 2025/26 season because of his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with Egypt having already qualified for the tournament.

AFCON, scheduled during the European club season, will run from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco. This period overlaps with the busy festive fixture list in England. Should Egypt reach the final, Salah could be unavailable for up to 10 games, factoring in travel and recovery, potentially affecting Liverpool’s campaign during a critical stretch.

The upcoming AFCON could present Liverpool with a unique opportunity to prepare for life beyond Mo Salah.

Liverpool fans are no strangers to the disruption caused by the tournament’s mid-season scheduling. Salah has missed club games for AFCON twice during his time at Anfield, and the Reds also coped without Sadio Mane in early 2022 when his Senegal side defeated Egypt in the final.

While it’s possible Salah might be unavailable for other reasons, such as injury (as seen during the January 2024 edition), he remains one of the most durable players in Arne Slot’s squad, rarely sidelined for extended periods.

If Salah participates in the tournament over the festive period, Slot will need to adapt and plan without his star winger for several matches. This challenge might also serve as a trial run to explore long-term alternatives for the right flank, laying the groundwork for the club’s future once Salah departs.

Liverpool have proven their resilience in the past, thriving even in Salah’s absence. During the 2021/22 season, the Reds managed to win two trophies despite being without both Salah and Mane for several weeks, coming tantalizingly close to a historic quadruple.

When December arrives, all eyes will be on who steps up to fill the void left by Salah, Liverpool’s third-highest scorer of all time, and whether they can continue the club’s momentum in his absence.