Liverpool could lose Mohamed Salah earlier than hoped as crunch AFCON talks continue

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Mohamed Salah is set to take part in next month's Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt - but the Pharaohs want the Liverpool forward earlier than initially expectedLiverpool remain locked in talks with Egypt over when Mohamed Salah can be released ahead of next month's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.And the Reds could be set to lose their talisman earlier than anticipated with Egypt looking to bring him in for a mid-December friendly, which would see Salah miss a vital Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion on top of the fixtures he is already away for over the Christmas and New Year period.The Pharaohs begin their AFCON campaign on December 22 when they meet Zimbabwe in a Group B clash at Agadir's Adrar Stadium.READ MORE: Arne Slot urged to make major Liverpool change as Alexander Isak prediction madeREAD MORE: Mohamed Salah vs Bukayo Saka decision made as Liverpool star told he has to changeThat means Salah is expected to miss the Reds' trip to Tottenham Hotspur two days earlier and with the African tournament running from December 21 to January 18, the third highest scorer in Anfield history could miss as many as six games, depending on the progress of Hossam Hassan's side in Morocco.A group stage exit for Egypt could mean Salah is back in time for the visit from Leeds United on New Year's Day, although the trip to Fulham three days later is viewed as a more realistic return to the side.However, the prospect of Salah taking part in the pre-AFCON friendly against Nigeria on December 14 means the No.11 could also be absent when Arne Slot's side entertain Brighton at Anfield a day earlier.With the champions struggling in their attempts to retain their Premier League crown, having lost five games already, a prolonged absence for Salah would be a huge blow for Slot.Talks remain ongoing between club and country as Liverpool brace themselves for another AFCON campaign for a player who has been their top scorer every season since his arrival in 2017."We are still in contact with Liverpool and Manchester City (over Omar Marmoush) at the moment for this matter," Egypt's technical director Ibrahim Hassan told winwin.com.Salah is part of a three-man shortlist for Player of the Year at Wednesday's Confederation of African Football awards, which will be held in Rabat, Morocco and the former Roma forward could be granted special dispensation by his Anfield chiefs to attend the ceremony.The Liverpool star, whose 29 Premier League goals fired the Reds to their 20th title last time out, is battling it out with Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi and Galatasaray's Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who won the trophy in 2023.Salah won the award in successive years in 2017 and 2018 and is aiming to go within one win of the record shared by Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Toure, who have won the award that recognises Africa's best footballer four times apiece.Salah will also sit out Egypt's meeting with Cape Verde in the United Arab Emirates on Monday evening, with a statement from the Pharaohs confirming the Reds forward is being rested.Egypt said: "The Egyptian national football team, led by Hossam Hassan, held its training session in Al Ain in preparation for a friendly match against Cape Verde at 6pm on Monday - Cairo time - at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, UAE.“The absence of the duo Ahmed Sayed Zizo and Hamdi Fathi from the Cape Verde match due to injury was also confirmed, and Salah Mohsen underwent recovery training, in addition to giving Mohamed Salah a rest, and his non-participation in the Cape Verde friendly.“Tarek Abou El-Enein and Mohamed Abou Hussein, members of the board of directors of the Football Association, attended the training session of the Egyptian national team.”