Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah (C) and Liverpool's Hungarian midfielder #08 Dominik Szoboszlai (R) attend a training session at the team's training ground in Kirkby, north Liverpool in north-west England. AFP
The tournament will be held in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January, with Egypt drawn in Group B alongside South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe.
The timeline means Salah will be available for Liverpool’s Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield before departing for international duty.
“It’s the 15th of December,” Slot told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Sunderland. “As always, there is a player involved, there is the nation involved — Egypt in this situation — and the club, and there are always talks about what is best for all three of us.”
Slot said Liverpool, the Egyptian Football Association, and the player were aligned with FIFA regulations on release dates.
“That’s nothing new, it’s always the same. Also, when they come back, when they go. I think FIFA have said the 15th is the last date a player has to be released,” he added.
Salah was an unused substitute in Liverpool’s 3-1 win at West Ham United on Sunday, with Slot making four changes to his starting lineup at London Stadium.
Asked whether the 32-year-old forward was unhappy to start on the bench, Slot replied: “It’s a fair assumption and a normal reaction from a player that has been so outstanding for this club for so many years."
“Of course, a player isn’t happy if he is not playing. But the way he behaved was as you would expect from the professional he is. He was very supportive of his teammates and handled himself really well.”
Salah, who has scored 12 goals in all competitions this season, is expected to play a leading role for Egypt as they chase a record-extending eighth AFCON title.
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