Liverpool face an anxious wait to learn the extent of an apparent hamstring injury sustained by Mohamed Salah at AFCON.
Salah pulled up just before half-time during Egypt’s clash with Ghana at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium and was unable to continue after receiving treatment.
“I hope it’s not a big problem, but now, I don’t know, because it’s [too] early to see something,” Egypt coach Rui Vitoria said of Salah’s issue after the game.
“I think it’s not dangerous, but let’s see. Let’s see if Salah recovers.”
Salah has been in sensational form for Liverpool during 2023/24, returning to his brilliant best to help fire Jurgen Klopp’s side to the top of the Premier League table. The 31-year-old tops the scoring charts with 14 goals in 20 appearances, while he has also supplied eight assists for his teammates.
His absence to play for Egypt at AFCON was a blow in itself for Liverpool, but the club now face a nervous wait to learn the extent of Salah’s potential injury. He did, encouragingly, leave the pitch under his own steam but did look to be in some discomfort after initially sitting down on the grass.
Without Salah, Egypt went on to draw the game 2-2, hitting back twice to cancel out a brace from West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus. They have now drawn both of their Group B games – they shared the spoils against Mozambique in their opening match after a late Salah penalty – and must beat Cape Verde to guarantee a place in the knockout stages.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are preparing to face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday. Wataru Endo, like Salah, is away on international duty – he’s representing Japan at the Asian Cup – and Dominik Szoboszlai is unlikely to play as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will also miss the game at the Vitality Stadium, though Klopp will still be able to field a strong team and a forward line boasting at least three of Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz.
