Liverpool travel to face Tottenham on Saturday evening in the Premier League but will be without Mohamed Salah, who has jetted off to the Africa Cup of Nations
Liverpool will look to string consecutive Premier League wins together when they face Tottenham on Saturday. Arne Slot’s men currently sit seventh in the table after beating Brighton last time out.
The Reds began this season looking like bona fide contenders but slumped to loss after loss, sending their title defence off the rails. The situation surrounding Mohamed Salah hasn’t helped proceedings after he claimed to feel “thrown under the bus” over decreased playing time.
Slot’s side will be aiming to climb the table with victory in north London, but the outspoken Salah will not be present as he’s linked up with Egypt ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. Despite his country being one of the competition’s frontrunners, a new prediction doesn’t bode well.
Mirror Football brings you all the latest updates from Anfield, including a January transfer blow and a former Liverpool ace making a loan move plea.
Salah predicted to make early AFCON exit
Egypt are seven-time AFCON winners and hold a strong hand this year, led by Salah. But a new supercomputer prediction has them heading home early.
READ MORE: Mo Salah could be back at Liverpool sooner than expected as AFCON fears raisedREAD MORE: Antoine Semenyo transfer prediction made as Liverpool get timeline for deal completion
Salah’s country are preparing for matches against Zimbabwe, South Africa and Angola, and a prediction made by BookmakersCameroun.com has them progressing in this group.
But it is in the round of 16 where they believe Egypt will slip up. The supercomputer predicts that they’ll be dumped out by Comoros in a shock 1-0 defeat at this stage.
Last 16 matches at the competition take place between January 3 and January 6. Liverpool play Arsenal on January 8, so this may come too soon for Salah if he does exit the tournament. He could be available for the FA Cup clash against Barnsley on January 12 though, if this prediction comes true.
Guehi transfer blow
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi was close to becoming a Liverpool player in the summer before a £35million deal collapsed. The Reds are expected to return for the Englishman at some point, but an admission made by Guehi’s manager indicates this may not be in January.
Having retained his club captain in the summer, Palace manager Oliver Glasner claims that the 25-year-old will remain at Selhurst Park until the end of the season.
“I think Marc will stay until the end of the season,” said Glasner, speaking before his side’s Europa Conference League encounter against Finnish side Kuopion Palloseura.
Liverpool only made their summer move for Guehi after the Community Shield match against Palace in August. Chairman Steve Parish recently indicated that the Reds could have succeeded in signing the defender if they had started negotiations sooner.
Ex-Reds star makes plea
One star who exited Anfield over the summer was Harvey Elliott. The 22-year-old left for Aston Villa on loan in September in a deal that reportedly includes a £35million obligation to buy should he make 10 appearances, but the midfielder rarely plays.
This lack of game time has led former Red Don Hutchison to urge the club to recall Elliott. He told Oddsboom: “If you’re Liverpool, you’re probably best off bringing him back and keeping him in the squad.
“They only had a short number on the bench at the weekend and probably that’s why Mo Salah was a little bit fortunate that he made the bench, because you know, [Cody] Gakpo was injured.
“[Wataru] Endo was injured and [Conor] Bradley was suspended. So I think it’ll be a good move from Liverpool to bring him back. But it’s bizarre how he’s not got any game time over at Villa.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
