Mo Salah could be back at Liverpool sooner than expected as AFCON fears raised

Fears of Mohamed Salah’s Egypt failing at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations have increased with a new supercomputer predicting a stunning early exit. Salah joined his countrymen ahead of Egypt's opening clash against Zimbabwe next week, with the tournament running until the final on January 18.

But a shocking new forecast from experts could mean he is back for the Reds when they face Arsenal on January 8. That is, if one supercomputer's prediction is to be believed, with Egypt projected to crash out of the AFCON in a shock defeat to Comoros in the last-16.

At one stage, it appeared that the Reds' superstar may not return to Merseyside from the tournament hosted in Morocco. The 33-year-old spoke out against the club and Arne Slot in a surprising post-match interview after he failed to get off the bench against Leeds.

Salah missed out Liverpool's next matchday squad against Inter as a result but quickly returned to the foldand was substituted onto the field during the win over Brighton.

Liverpool's third greatest goalscorer will miss a number of games over the Christmas period as the Merseyside club take on Tottenham and Wolves to see out December. While that's happening, Salah will be gearing up to face Zimbabwe, Angola and South Africa.

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The veteran's trip to Morocco may not last much longer, however, according to BookmakersCameroun.com's supercomputer. They foresee Egypt being upset by minnows Comoros in a 1-0 defeat.

Matches in that last 16 will take place between Saturday January 3 and Tuesday January 6 2026. Liverpool take on Arsenal in the Premier League on January 8.

The trip to north London will more than likely come too soon for Salah to return in good time, but Slot would have a decision to make. Exiting in the first knockout stage could mean Salah returns in time for FA Cup action against Barnsley on January 12 instead.

Salah was absent from his nation's warm-up match against Nigeria. The Pharaohs' captain was left out of the squad as Egypt prevailed 2-1, having only arrived in the early hours of Tuesday morning alongside Manchester City ace Omar Marmoush.

The supercomputer, meanwhile, anticipates the tournament hosts to go all the way. Morocco are predicted to defeat Senegal 1-0 in the final.

Senegal will claim their place as runners-up after knocking out defending champions Ivory Coast at the semi-final stage with a convincing 3-0 win. Morocco's clash with Uganda was said to be tighter with a 1-0 win. Penalties are expected to separate Uganda and the Ivory Coast in the third-place game, with the Cranes earning the win.