When Mohamed Salah departed Liverpool for Africa Cup of Nations duty, one of the club’s biggest fears would have been the Egypt star getting injured.
Well, during Egypt’s draw against Ghana on Thursday, that nightmare became a reality for Liverpool when Mohamed Salah was forced off with a muscle injury.
The powers that be at Egypt are hopeful that their star man can return for the knockout stages, that’s if they make it.
But, until then, the 31-year-old has returned to Liverpool for treatment and Shaka Hislop thinks this will now cause issues, as he told ESPN on Sunday evening after the 4-0 win over Bournemouth.
The former goalkeeper thinks Egypt ‘won’t be happy’ because he can’t see Mohamed Salah now returning to the Ivory Coast to take part in the rest of the tournament.
You wouldn’t blame Liverpool if they became a little cautious and, even if it was touch-and-go with the forward, they would be reluctant to let him fly back out.
That’s the point Shaka Hislop was trying to make after hearing this news overnight.
Mohamed Salah’s injury
“I don’t think Egypt will be happy with this at all,” said Hislop. “If I am Egypt and I am sitting in the Ivory Coast. Why would I want Mo Salah to go back to Liverpool?
“The chances are he isn’t going to come back. That’s my thinking sitting there. That he gets there. They are going to put pressure on him to not return. I think this is still brewing.”
Liverpool score four without Mohamed Salah
All eyes have been on Liverpool’s forward line ever since Salah departed and they are delivering.
After the win at Arsenal in the FA Cup before the winter break, Klopp watched his players thrash in-form Bournemouth 4-0 on Sunday, with Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota causing havoc.
That win also puts the Merseyside club in a commanding position because they are now five points clear of second-placed Manchester City in the table – they have a game in hand – and eight clear of fifth-placed Tottenham.
