Despite Mohamed Salah recently signing a two-year contract extension that will keep him at Liverpool until 2027, the club is already looking ahead to life without their star winger. At 32 years old, Salah’s new deal was met with relief from fans, as it ended months of uncertainty about his future at Anfield. However, with Salah set to turn 35 by the time his contract expires, Liverpool’s new head coach, Arne Slot, is mindful of the need to plan for a future without the Egyptian forward.
One of the key factors influencing this strategy is the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled for December 2025 to January 2026 in Morocco. Egypt’s qualification for the tournament means Salah will likely miss a significant portion of the 2025/26 season. Depending on how far Egypt advances, he could be absent for up to 10 games, with additional time needed for travel and recovery. This period of absence coincides with a crucial phase of the Premier League season and domestic cup competitions, meaning Slot will have to make adjustments to Liverpool’s attacking lineup in Salah’s absence.
Liverpool has faced similar challenges before, most notably in the 2021/22 season when both Salah and Sadio Mané were away on international duty for the AFCON. During that time, Liverpool managed to perform admirably, winning two trophies and coming within a hair’s breadth of achieving a historic quadruple. This demonstrated the club’s ability to cope without their key players, and Slot now faces a similar opportunity to experiment with alternatives in Salah’s absence.
Although Salah’s exceptional fitness and consistency suggest he will likely remain a key figure for Liverpool in the coming years, the club recognizes the importance of long-term planning. The upcoming AFCON provides a valuable opportunity for Slot and his coaching staff to assess potential successors to Salah and explore how the team might evolve in his absence. It could serve as an important dress rehearsal for a future where Salah, one of the greatest players in the club’s history, is no longer a regular fixture.
Liverpool’s preparation for the post-Salah era is not only about replacing his talent but also adapting the team’s overall attacking structure. While the immediate focus will be on managing his absence during the AFCON, the club is laying the groundwork for a seamless transition when the time comes for Salah to move on. The fact that Salah’s contract extension has not dulled the club’s strategic planning for the future shows how seriously Liverpool are taking the task of maintaining their competitive edge, even beyond their talismanic forward’s tenure.
