Will Mohamed Salah play for Liverpool against Burnley?

Once again, Mohamed Salah’s dreams of leading Egypt to an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumph ended in frustration.

Egypt were defeated in a tense semi-final against Senegal, with Salah’s former Liverpool teammate Sadio Mané scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 win. The wait for international silverware goes on for Salah, who scored four goals in five games for Egypt at this year’s edition.

“We’re all close, we love each other, we hang out together, the humor is unbelievable, and we work hard both on and off the pitch,” Salah said earlier this month.

With Egypt now eliminated, Liverpool fans will be hoping to get their No. 11 back in time for this weekend’s Premier League game against Burnley. However FIFA’s scheduling rules make that impossible.

Why isn’t Mohamed Salah playing for Liverpool?

Although no longer in the running for the trophy, Egypt still have one AFCON game remaining. Egypt will take on Nigeria on Saturday in the third-place playoff in Casablanca.

FIFA rules dictate that players may not leave their national team until the day after their team’s final match at a tournament. Salah and Egypt still have one more game in Morocco before returning to their club sides.

Looking ahead, Liverpool boss Arne Slot will not have too long to wait to get Salah back on the field. Liverpool travel to Marseille for a midweek Champions League game on Wednesday 21, before a visit to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday 24.

Liverpool have been short of attacking options in recent weeks but Salah had been out of favor at Anfield before leaving for AFCON. He has not started for Liverpool since a 4-1 loss to PSV on November 26 and accused the club of “throwing him under the bus” after being benched for three consecutive games.

Slot will now be tasked with assimilating Salah, one of the club’s greatest-ever players, back into the team.