Mohamed Salah leaving AFCON to rehab injury with Liverpool،
Mohamed Salah will return to Liverpool to rehab his hamstring injury, but only after watching Egypt complete their group matches in the Africa Cup of Nations final when they meet the Cape Verde Islands in Abidjan Monday.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) confirmed he will continue his treatment at his club, as Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp suggested earlier on Sunday after their 4-0 Premier League win at Bournemouth.
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Egypt, however, still hopes that Salah can play a role at the tournament.
“We hope to catch him in the semi-final of the African Cup of Nations if he qualifies,” the EFA said in a statement.
Salah was injured on Thursday against Ghana and no timetable has yet been given on its severity. Salah faced the media on Saturday in Ivory Coast, but avoided any questions about the severity of his injury.
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Klopp had said earlier in the day that he expected Salah to return to Liverpool to undergo rehabilitation from his injury or at least work with the medical staff.
“That’s the plan. [that Salah will go through his rehab with Liverpool]” Klopp said. “No matter how long he is out, it probably makes sense that everyone [rehab] with us [in Liverpool] or with our people. That's the plan. If it's already set in stone, I don't know. »
Klopp said he spoke with Salah on the night of the injury and added that since then all contact has been with Liverpool's medical staff. And if Salah recovers quickly, then Klopp says he could still return to the AFCON to help Egypt.
“I'm not a doctor,” Klopp said. “I would say if Egypt qualifies for the final, then probably yes. Ivory Coast, I'm sure it's a wonderful country, but we don't have anyone from home there. They have people who have to take care of the players who play.”
Salah said on Saturday about his injury: “I'm happy to be here, my injury is still there but the most important thing is to talk about the match. We have great players, a great team and we just have to fight and see what happens.” will happen.”
Despite Salah's absence, Liverpool comfortably beat Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday to extend their lead to five points at the top of the Premier League. Darwin Núñez and Diogo Jota each scored twice in the second half, with Klopp delighted with their performance.
After a tense first half, Klopp changed the situation at the break and played Núñez on the left and Jota in the middle.
“The moment we find the rhythm, we are strong,” Klopp said. We should start the games better, but it's about 98 minutes, it's about winning the games in the end. As long as you stay in the game… today, step by step, we found a way and we won.”
Although it was the forwards who scored the match-winning goals, Klopp was also delighted with Alexis Mac Allister's controlled performance at the heart of Liverpool's midfield.
“Absolutely exceptional performance, I'm so happy for us but also for him. He's a very good footballer and he did a job defensively and offensively, he's a super important player for us. He's calm with the ball and the good things in the first half. was him,” Klopp said.
And Klopp was also delighted with Conor Bradley's performance at right-back on his Premier League debut. “Pretty good, really good, very impressive,” Klopp said of Bradley. “A wonderful kid, very hardworking and a good footballer. It was a good game.”
