Jamie Carragher Has the Last Laugh as Mohamed Salah's AFCON Wait Continues

Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool defender turned pundit, has offered a nuanced prediction on Mohamed Salah's future at the club amid ongoing tensions and the Egyptian star's extended AFCON commitment. In his Telegraph column, Carragher speculates whether Salah will remain with Liverpool on February 1, 2026, or September 1, 2026, answering "both yes and no."[1]

Carragher's comments follow Salah's recent criticism of Liverpool, where the forward claimed he felt "betrayed" by the club in a post-match interview before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations. Initially, Carragher labeled these remarks a "disgrace," dismissing them as more than mere emotional outburst. However, he has since softened his stance, hailing Salah as an "all-time great" for the Reds.[1]

The pundit argues that Liverpool's current injury crisis—highlighted by Alexander Isak's leg injury—prevents any January transfer window exit for Salah. The AFCON timing provides a cooling-off period after seasonal frictions, but Carragher foresees the coming months as a "prolonged farewell" leading to a "perfect, choreographed send-off" at season's end. He believes the club is preparing to sanction a transfer for the Egyptian superstar.[1]

Beyond Salah, Carragher remains bullish on Arsenal, predicting they will end their title drought thanks to a robust squad featuring a solid goalkeeper, center-backs, and Declan Rice. Liverpool, trailing Arsenal by 15 points, prioritize Champions League qualification, with their next test against Fulham.[1]

This evolving narrative underscores Carragher's "last laugh"—shifting from critic to architect of Salah's poetic exit, blending past barbs with forward-looking respect amid Liverpool's challenges.

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