Liverpool have a hectic fixture schedule over Christmas and New Year with Arne Slot looking primed for a major boost in one Premier League fixtureArne Slot could be handed a huge boost for Liverpool's upcoming Premier League game against FulhamArne Slot could be handed a huge boost for Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League game against Fulham(Image: (Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images))

Liverpool appear set for a huge boost in one of their Premier League matches over the busy upcoming period after Nigeria’s squad for AFCON was confirmed. The Super Eagles are among the favourites which could see them absent until mid-January and now the 28 players heading to Morocco have been confirmed.

Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, having both been crowned African player of the year recently, are the big names looking to inspire Nigeria to victory. Fulham’s Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey have also been named in Eric Chelle’s squad for the tournament.

Liverpool face Marco Silva’s side on January 4, 2026 with it highly likely their Nigeria trio are not available for selection. Their final group-stage clash against Uganda arrives four days earlier with it therefore feasible they could actually partake in the clash at Craven Cottage if they are knocked out.

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However, Nigeria are expected to advance to the knockout stages with Tunisia and Tanzania the other teams in their group. The Cottagers having none of Chukwueze, Iwobi or Bassey will be a big blow especially as the latter duo are almost certain starters.

Sasa Lukic, Tom Cairney and even Josh King are capable of filling in alongside Sander Berge it will likely be Issa Diop or Jorge Cuenca that replaces Bassey.

Despite having options that can help in their absence, it is still far from ideal for Silva especially with injuries elsewhere still a possibility.

Liverpool will be without Mohamed Salah for that period as well with the 33-year-old set to represent Egypt. He has played just 45 minutes of Liverpool’s last four games with an explosive outburst after the 3-3 draw against Leeds United coming before that.

He was left out of the squad entirely for the trip to Inter in the Champions League on Tuesday, but is set for a return to the fold for this weekend’s clash against Brighton before then departing for AFCON, as per The Telegraph.

Arne Slot had earlier revealed that talks with Salah had been scheduled with the outcome of that seemingly clear.

He said at a press conference on Friday: “I will have a conversation with Mo this morning and the outcome determines how [we proceed].”

(Image: (Tim Markland/PA Wire))

“What I need is a conversation with him and the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here. There’s not much more I can say. I speak to him today and the outcome determines how things will look tomorrow.

“You can try in multiple ways but I just said the next time I speak about him should be with him. I think there’s been a lot of conversations since the last week between his representatives and ours.

“I think we decided as a club and I was part of that not to take him to Inter. I am always in contact with them with lineup and squads, that is always left to me. I talk to Richard Hughes more than Michael Edwards, we speak about many things.

“The next time I speak about Mo will be with him. I see no reason why I don’t want him to stay.