In the first game of 2024, Liverpool will usher in the 20th round of the Premier League, the opponent is Newcastle, and Liverpool will play the Premier League tycoons at home. When this game is over, Liverpool are likely to suffer a period of slump due to the international competition just around the corner. 7 Africa Cup of Nations in 12 years! Liverpool is in trouble: the number one core will miss a maximum of 7 games, and the iron waist will play in the Asian Cup.
According to The Times, Salah will leave the club after the match between Liverpool and Newcastle and return to Africa to play in the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d'Ivoire. The Africa Cup of Nations early next year will be played from 13 January to 11 February, with Mohamed's Egyptian side in the same group as Ghana, Cabo Verde and Mozambique.
It is said that the Copa America is a "weekly cup", but in fact, the Africa Cup of Nations is held more frequently, with the Africa Cup of Nations competitions in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2024. Previously, when Sadio Mane and Keita played for Liverpool, the situation faced by Liverpool was even more difficult.
Salah should be very serious about this edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, after all, he has yet to win the Africa Cup of Nations. Salah has won two runners-up finishes, losing to Cameroon in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final, and in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt lost to Senegal on penalties. The 31-year-old Salah is in desperate need of a national team title, and this Africa Cup of Nations is important for Salah.
Liverpool have seven games to play during the Africa Cup of Nations, taking them against Arsenal in the FA Cup third round, Fulham twice in the EFL Cup semi-finals and Bournemouth, Chelsea, Arsenal and Burnley in the Premier League. If Egypt reach the final, then Salah will miss those matches.
Mohamed Salah has scored 16 goals and provided seven assists in 26 appearances for Liverpool this season, and his unavailability would be a big loss for Liverpool. In addition, Endo will play in the Asian Cup with the Japanese team, which will also have an impact on Liverpool. Although Endo's role at Liverpool is not as good as Salah's, his dedication to running at the expense of physical strength is also indispensable for Liverpool.
Endo is the heart of Japan's midfield and captain, and is in the same group as Iraq, Vietnam and Indonesia in the Asian Cup, and is likely to lead the team to the final. The Asian Cup is about the same time frame as the Africa Cup of Nations, and Liverpool are in big trouble.