Liverpool’s star forward, Mohamed Salah, could potentially miss several crucial matches for the club and country due to a recent injury update. Salah sustained a hamstring injury while representing Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations, leading to his substitution during the game against Ghana and the 31-year-old will now undergo rehabilitation in Merseyside to recover.
Jürgen Klopp was asked about the issue before Liverpool beat Bournemouth at the weekend and confirmed that Salah was set to have scans to determine the severity of the injury. Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, provided an update on it yesterday, stating that it is “more serious than first thought.” Rather than the two matches that the Egypt FA had initially suggested, Salah could be sidelined for up to four weeks. This timeframe puts him at risk of missing significant fixtures for both club and country.
In terms of international duty, Salah did not participate in Egypt’s final group game against Cape Verde which finished 2-2. Even if Egypt progresses, Salah will not be playing for a while. The last-16 stage of the tournament is scheduled between January 27-30. The quarter-finals will take place on February 2 and 3, with the semi-finals on February 7. The final is set for February 11. A three-week absence for Salah would mean a return around February 13.
For Liverpool, Salah’s absence raises concerns for upcoming matches in various competitions. The Reds are scheduled to face Fulham in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday. Shortly after, they have an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Norwich City on Sunday. On January 31, Liverpool will return to Premier League action against Chelsea, followed by an away game against Arsenal on February 4.
Salah was never likely to play in any of those games because he was likely to still be with Eygpt. Additional fixtures include a home game against Burnley on February 10 and an away match against Brentford on February 17.
If Salah’s recovery aligns with the new estimated timeframe, he could potentially make his return to the Premier League on February 24 against Luton Town. However, if Liverpool progresses past Fulham in the Carabao Cup, the final is scheduled for February 25, which may impact Salah’s return date and potentially offer him the opportunity to win a major trophy at Wembley Stadium.
