Liverpool will lose Mohamed Salah for the duration of Egypt’s run at the Africa Cup of Nations – but there are 11 Premier League clubs worse-hit by mid-season call-ups.

Salah has played his last game of 2025 for Liverpool – with a debate over whether it could be his last-ever for the club – and he now joins up with the Egypt squad for AFCON.

While it is clear losing their No. 11 for a tournament that runs from December 21 to January 18 is a considerable blow, in terms of numbers the Reds are among those least-affected.

Premier League players called up for AFCON 2025

LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 18, 2025: Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo arrives before the FA Premier League match between Brentford FC and Liverpool FC at the Brentford Community Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

In fact there are 11 Premier League clubs who have had more players called up to this year’s mid-season AFCON.

Sunderland: 6

Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso), Arthur Masuaku, Noah Sadiki (DR Congo), Reinildo (Mozambique), Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Habib Diarra (Senegal)

Man United: 3

Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)

Fulham: 3

Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 20, 2025: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo challenges Everton's Iliman Ndiaye during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Everton FC at Anfield. The 247th Merseyside Derby. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Burnley: 3

Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia)

Wolves: 2

Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast), Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe)

Nottingham Forest: 2

Willy Boly, Ibrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast)

Everton: 2

Iliman Ndiaye, Idrissa Gueye (Senegal)

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 9, 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah speaks to fellow Egypt team-mate Manchester City's Omar Marmoush during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. Man City won 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Man City: 2

Rayan Ait-Nouri (Algeria), Omar Marmoush (Egypt)

Brentford: 2

Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria)

Tottenham: 2

Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal), Yves Bissouma (Mali)

West Ham: 2

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo), El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal)

LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 10, 2025: Crystal Palace's Ismaïla Sarr celebrates with the trophy after the FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium. Palace won 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Propaganda)

Crystal Palace: 1

Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)

Liverpool: 1

Mo Salah (Egypt)

Brighton: 1

Carlos Baleba (Cameroon)

Aston Villa: 1 on standby

Evann Guessand (Ivory Coast)

The five Premier League clubs guaranteed to not see any players depart for AFCON are Arsenal, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Leeds and Newcastle.

When are Mohamed Salah’s games at AFCON 2025?

Mohamed Salah Egypt (Sebo47 / Alamy Stock Photo)

Salah will travel to Morocco to meet his Egypt teammates for final preparations ahead of the tournament, which for Hossam Hassan’s side kicks off on December 22:

Group Stage

• Egypt vs. Zimbabwe – Dec 22
• Egypt vs. South Africa – Dec 26
• Angola vs. Egypt – Dec 29

Knockout Stage

• Round of 16 – Jan 3/4/5
• Quarter-Finals – Jan 9/10
• Semi-Finals: Jan 14
• Third-Placed Playoff: Jan 17
• Final: Jan 18

Which Liverpool games will Salah miss for AFCON?

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 13, 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah tapping the badge after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Salah will miss a minimum of three games for Liverpool while away at AFCON, those being:

• Tottenham (A) – Premier League – Dec 20
• Wolves (H) – Premier League – Dec 27
• Leeds (H) – Premier League – Jan 1

The 33-year-old could also be absent for a further five games including the FA Cup third-round clash with Barnsley:

• AFCON Round of 16 – Jan 3/4/5
• Fulham (A) – Premier League – Jan 4
• Arsenal (A) – Premier League – Jan 8
• AFCON Quarter-Finals – Jan 9/10
• Barnsley (H) – FA Cup – Jan 12
• AFCON Semi-Finals: Jan 14
• AFCON Third-Placed Playoff: Jan 17
• Burnley (H) – Premier League – Jan 17
• AFCON Final: Jan 18
• Marseille (A) – Champions League – Jan 21