Liverpool have been handed a reassuring update regarding Mohamed Salah after Egypt confirmed the forward will not feature in their upcoming friendly against Cape Verde on Monday.
The Egyptian FA announced that the national team captain will sit out the match purely for rest, easing any concerns at Anfield following their unexpected 2–0 defeat to Uzbekistan in the Al Ain International Cup semi-final.
Salah played the full match on Friday but could not prevent Egypt from missing out on a place in the final. Instead, they are set to compete in a third-place play-off, where the coaching staff has chosen to give the 33-year-old a breather.
In their official communication, Egypt explained that several players would be absent through injury or recovery, while Salah has been granted time off as part of a managed workload amid a busy international schedule.
With Liverpool preparing to resume Premier League action against Nottingham Forest on November 22, the decision comes at a good moment for the Reds, who will welcome back a fully-rested Salah.
However, his international duties are far from over this year. Salah is expected to lead Egypt at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, beginning December 21. Egypt were placed in Group B alongside South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe, meaning Liverpool are set to lose their star attacker for a minimum of three matches — potentially more if Egypt advance deep into the competition.
Should the Pharaohs reach the final, Salah could miss as many as eight Liverpool fixtures, including high-profile away clashes with Arsenal and Tottenham.
Despite his exceptional campaign last season — where he finished as both top scorer and top creator in the league — Salah’s form this term has come under increasing discussion. He currently sits on five goals and three assists from 16 appearances in all competitions.
Leave a Reply