Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has flown back to England for treatment on a hamstring tear, raising concerns about his availability for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and dealing a setback to Liverpool’s title aspirations.
The Egyptian forward had to witness his national team’s narrow advancement to the AFCON knockout stage with a 2-2 draw against Cape Verde on Monday from the sidelines. His absence further dampens Egypt’s prospects for securing their first continental title since 2010.
The injury, sustained during the match against Ghana, initially carried a glimmer of hope, with the Egyptian Football Association holding onto the possibility of Salah’s return in the later stages. However, Liverpool’s assistant manager, Pep Lijnders, delivered a more realistic assessment on Tuesday.
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Lijnders stated at a press conference, “It’s a proper tear in his hamstring. His expected return to play is between three to four weeks if everything goes smoothly. Even in an ideal scenario, the AFCON final (on February 11th) seems the most realistic target.”
This setback adds to Salah’s unfortunate history with the tournament, having suffered defeat in the final twice, to Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal in 2019. Lijnders vehemently refuted accusations that Salah prioritized club commitments over the national team.
“There’s no one whose commitment you should ever doubt more than Mo Salah,” Lijnders emphasized. “The decision for him to return to England was solely made with the hope of maximizing his chances of playing in the final, should Egypt reach that stage.”
For Liverpool, Salah’s absence leaves a void in their quest for a Premier League title. The Reds, currently holding a five-point lead at the top of the table, face crucial matches against Chelsea and Arsenal without their prolific scorer.
Salah’s rehabilitation timeline is now a race, with both Egypt and Liverpool eagerly awaiting his return to the pitch.