Mohamed Salah is a key absentee for Liverpool while he plays for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah's absence with his national team has taken on added meaning after the saga caused by his explosive interview, after Liverpool's draw at Leeds where he was an unused substitute, when he hinted that he could leave the club in January. Arne Slot has since insisted that incident is behind them.
Salah is now focused on AFCON.
The tournament, held in Morocco, will run from Dec. 21 to Jan. 18 (for the finalists). The final group stage game is against Angola on Dec. 29.
Salah's Egypt have progressed to the knock-out stage from a group of four with Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe -- prolonging Salah's absence from Liverpool.
The round of 16 is scheduled from Jan. 3 to Jan. 6.
While Salah's Egypt play their first knock-out game
Jan. 1 - Liverpool vs. Leeds United, Premier League
Jan. 4 - Fulham vs. Liverpool, Premier League
Jan 8. Arsenal vs. Liverpool, Premier League (depending when Egypt's game is scheduled)
If Salah's Egypt progress into quarterfinals, then semifinals
Jan 17. - Liverpool vs. Burnley, Premier League
The AFCON third-placed play-off is scheduled for Jan. 17, and the final is on Jan. 18. Liverpool's next match is in the Champions League against Marseille on Jan. 21.
But they don't have a match between their away day at Arsenal on Jan. 8, and hosting Burnley on Jan. 17. During this period, the AFCON quarterfinals and semifinals are played.