Liverpool’s star forward Mohamed Salah may return to the club’s training camp earlier than expected, possibly before the international break ends. This follows Egypt’s comfortable 2-0 win over Mauritania, during which Salah scored the second goal in the 79th minute.
After contributing significantly to his team’s success, he was substituted in extra time, just before the match ended, and replaced by 23-year-old forward Ibrahim Adel. Egypt remains in a commanding position at the top of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group, sitting with nine points, six points clear of the second-placed team.
Hossam Hassan’s Egyptian side has been flawless in Group C so far, having won all three matches, scoring an impressive total of nine goals without conceding any. They kicked off their campaign with a 3-0 victory against Cape Verde, with goals coming from Rami Rabia, Omar Marmoush, and Ibrahim Adel.
Four days later, they maintained their momentum with a 4-0 thrashing of Botswana, in which Salah found the back of the net for the third goal. However, he was substituted in the 75th minute for Koka, as the team comfortably saw out the match.
While Egypt’s next fixture is set to be another clash with Mauritania on Tuesday, it is expected that Salah will not participate due to various factors.
Reports have indicated that Salah might opt out of the game and return to Liverpool’s training camp ahead of schedule. One of the primary reasons for this decision is that the match will be played on artificial turf at the Stade Cheikha Ould Boidiya, a surface that poses a greater risk of injury.
Egypt’s manager, Hossam Hassan, revealed that Salah himself requested to sit out the game in order to avoid injury. With Liverpool’s challenging schedule looming after the international break, it is understandable that Salah would want to be cautious.
The Egyptian coach also pointed out that Mauritania tends to play an aggressive style of football, which could increase the risk of injury to Salah, a crucial player for Liverpool.
Should Salah miss the upcoming match, it’s likely he will return to Liverpool early to prepare for their upcoming Premier League clash against Chelsea on October 20. This could be a vital period for Liverpool, and Salah’s early return may help bolster the squad as they enter a tougher phase of the 2024/25 season.
In addition to Salah’s potential early return, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk might also come back early. The Dutch defender received a second yellow card during the Netherlands’ match against Hungary, which will rule him out of their next international fixture.
Like Salah, Van Dijk’s early return could provide a timely boost to Liverpool’s squad, allowing both key players to focus on preparing for the critical upcoming matches.
These early returns could prove to be an advantage for Liverpool manager Arne Slot, as the team will soon face more difficult opponents than those they encountered earlier in the season.
Furthermore, Salah’s impressive Premier League statistics continue to highlight his importance to Liverpool, as noted by football journalist Fabrizio Romano, who recently shared Salah’s achievements on social media.
