Mohamed Salah is expected to go back to Liverpool for his recovery from a muscle injury, but may have to return to the Africa Cup of Nations if Egypt makes it to the semi-finals.
Without Salah, Jürgen Klopp’s side moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 4-0 win at Bournemouth courtesy of two second-half goals apiece from Darwin Núñez and Diogo Jota.
Salah was injured and had to leave the game between Egypt and Ghana on Thursday. As a result, he will not be able to play in Egypt’s last Group B match against Cape Verde on Monday, as well as any potential matches in the round of 16 and quarterfinals. However, Klopp has stated that the plan is for Salah to travel back from Ivory Coast so he can receive top-quality medical care.
“I am not certain if it has definitely been decided, but that is the current plan,” stated the manager of Liverpool. “I believe it would be beneficial for all parties if he undergoes rehabilitation with our team or our medical staff. That is the plan. However, I am unsure if this has already been confirmed. I spoke with Salah directly soon after the incident occurred, but he has since been in communication with our doctor, Jonathan Power, who updates me on his progress. I am hopeful that he will return, but we will have to wait and see.”
When questioned about the possibility of Salah going back to Ivory Coast if Egypt makes it to the final, Klopp stated that he is not a medical professional but if Salah is healthy and Egypt reaches the final, then it is likely that he will return. He also mentioned that while Ivory Coast is a great country, their team does not have any players from there and it is the responsibility of the locals to support their own team. We will have to wait and see what happens.
Afterwards, the Egyptian Football Association released a statement indicating that Salah will be traveling to England for treatment and may potentially join the Egyptian national team if they advance to the semi-finals.
Núñez and Jota’s goals continued Liverpool’s impressive streak, increasing their lead over Manchester City by five points. Although Klopp admitted his team struggled with rhythm in the first half, they dominated Bournemouth in the second half. The manager specifically praised midfielder Alexis Mac Allister from Argentina.
Klopp expressed his immense satisfaction with the outstanding performance, stating, “I am elated for him.” He praised the player’s skills and highlighted his contributions on both defense and offense. Klopp noted that the team’s success in the first half was largely due to the player’s involvement.
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Iraola, the head coach of Bournemouth, complimented Liverpool for their efficient performance and recognized that his team was unable to sustain their peak performance after a strong first half. “Liverpool maintained a high level of intensity for 100 minutes,” Iraola stated. He also noted that once Bournemouth’s energy decreased and they allowed Liverpool more room, it became challenging as Liverpool capitalized on their opportunities.
Source: theguardian.com
