Arne Slot thinks ‘electric’ Liverpool player can replace Mohamed Salah during AFCON
Liverpool are looking to retain the Premier League title in 2025/26, and their transfer incomings suggest they mean business.
Liverpool’s record-breaking move for Florian Wirtz was followed by the additions of Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Armin Pesci and Freddie Woodman.
Arne Slot is also hoping that Liverpool can seal a transfer for Alexander Isak after seeing their £110million offer get rejected.
The Reds have improved several positions in their squad to give themselves the best shot at winning the title, although one area that didn’t need improving was right wing.
Mohamed Salah has decimated Premier League defences for the past eight years, and after a record-breaking campaign last time out, the Egyptian is showing no signs of slowing down.
Arne Slot thinks Jeremie Frimpong can replace Mohamed Salah
While Emile Heskey thinks 2025/26 could be Salah’s final season, the 32-year-old has already shown he’s still a world-class player.
Salah produced outrageous numbers in Slot’s first campaign in charge, with an eye-watering 34 goals and 23 assists in all competitions.
It would take something incredible for him to maintain those levels, though to stand any chance of lifting the title, Liverpool will need Salah in the big game moments.
Unfortunately, when the electric winger is on AFCON duty with Egypt at the end of December and in January, Slot will be without him for a period of time.
Already, the Dutchman is planning for life without him temporarily and has suggested that new signing Jeremie Frimpong can operate in Salah’s role during his absence.
In his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s clash against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield, Slot said: “We definitely thought about AFCON. It’s partly why we brought in Frimpong because he can play as a right-winger. A maximum six games without Mo, but that’s a lot in the Premier League. Jeremie can play there but he isn’t the only option.”
Frimpong, who has been dubbed ‘electric’, was brought in from Bayer Leverkusen as an option at right-back to challenge Connor Bradley, but the Dutchman can also play as a winger, something the Liverpool manager is thinking about trialling.
What games Salah could miss during AFCON
AFCON begins on December 21 and ends on January 16, with Liverpool potentially needing to fill Salah’s void for nearly a month.
Should Egypt reach the final of the competition, Salah could miss six Premier League fixtures and their first match in the FA Cup.
The top-flight fixtures include: Tottenham (20 December), Wolves (27 December), Leeds United (30 December), Fulham (3 January), Arsenal (7 January), and Burnley (17 January).
Many Liverpool fans will be praying that Egypt get knocked out of the tournament early so they have Salah back over a busy period.
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