No Salah in Egypt’s Friendly Tournament Squad: Liverpool Forward Given Break
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been omitted from Egypt’s squad for an upcoming friendly tournament this month. This decision arises as Salah continues his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained during the Africa Cup of Nations, coupled with subsequent muscle fatigue. These setbacks have limited Salah to just two substitute appearances for Liverpool since January 1.
Although initially named in Egypt’s squad, Salah did not make the final 25-man roster for the tournament in the UAE. Liverpool had previously urged for Salah’s exclusion from the competition, highlighting the imperative to carefully manage the 31-year-old’s fitness, particularly during this demanding phase of the season.
Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool’s manager, addressed Salah’s participation in international fixtures, stating, “Two games with Egypt are really not up to me; it is discussed with other departments. We want to be careful, we have to be careful, but we’re in the middle of a super-intense period of the season, and we need everyone.”
Despite Egypt initially allowing Salah to return to Liverpool for rehabilitation in January, with the intention of rejoining their Africa Cup of Nations campaign, the team was eliminated in the last 16. Although Salah scored as a substitute in Liverpool’s victory against Brentford on February 17, Klopp emphasized the necessity for additional recovery time. Salah made another return during Liverpool’s Europa League win against Sparta Prague on Thursday.
The Winsunited Cup, slated during the upcoming international break, will see Egypt engage in two matches in Abu Dhabi between March 22 and 26, facing New Zealand and then either Croatia or Tunisia. Despite Salah’s recent absence from the squad, he maintains his status as Liverpool’s leading goalscorer this season, having netted 19 goals in all competitions. The decision to exclude Salah from international duty underscores Liverpool’s commitment to carefully managing his fitness and ensuring his readiness for critical matches throughout the season.
