Revealed: Liverpool games Mohamed Salah will miss due to 2023 AFCON

Jurgen Klopp's men host Newcastle on New Year's Day in what will be the veteran forward's last club fixture for an extended period of time. Africa's annual continental tournament - held this year in the Ivory Coast - kicks off on January 14, where Egypt will take on Mozambique. Salah's side will be expected to progress from Group B, which means participation in the round of 16 on January 28 or 29. Quarter and semi-finals will be played on February 2/3 and 7, respectively, with the final taking place in Ebimpe on February 11.

In total, that could mean an absence of eight games for the Egyptian King, as Liverpool enter a crucial period in the new year. The 31-year old will miss their FA Cup third-round tie at Arsenal on January 7, as well as the two Carabao Cup semi-finals against Fulham, on January 10 and 24. Klopp will also be without Salah for Premier League fixtures against Bournemouth (January 21), Chelsea (January 31), Arsenal (February 4) and Burnley (February 10).

Should Liverpool progress against Premier League title rivals Arsenal in the FA Cup, then a fourth-round date on January 27 will take place without Salah in the side - making up the grand total of eight matches without their star forward.

His absence will be sorely missed by Klopp and Co., but for the Egypt international it will provide an opportunity for revenge. Salah saw his team fall to an agonising shoot-out loss to Senegal in the final a year ago, where he was unable to take the vital fifth penalty. Both 2022 finalists are among the favourite for Africa's showcase tournament this time around, alongside the likes of Ivory Coast and Nigeria.