Mohamed Salah is set for an early return to Liverpool after being released from the Egypt squad.
The 30-year-old scored a brace to help his country beat Niger 3-0 in a friendly on Friday, and he was set to be involved in today’s meeting with Liberia.
However, Egypt boss Rui Vitoria has announced that he will omit Salah from the squad, allowing the forward to return to Merseyside earlier than expected.
In a statement, Egypt said: “The technical staff of the Egyptian national team preferred to rest Mohamed Salah and Mostafa Mohamed for the Liberia friendly after both took part in the previous match against Niger.”
When he returns to England, Salah will begin to prepare for Liverpool’s home Premier League encounter with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
With nine fixtures coming up in October, Salah will look to add to the four goals and three assists he has registered in nine competitive appearances this season.
Egypt failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after Salah missed a vital spot-kick.
The Liverpool superstar ballooned his penalty over the crossbar in a penalty shootout – being one of three Egypt players to miss from the spot – with Senegal qualifying at his nation’s expense.
Egypt had taken a 1-0 lead into the second leg meeting in Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade, but that lead was erased by Senegal after just four minutes.
The shootout was full of terrible penalty kicks (five were missed by the two sides combined), laser pointing (which clearly didn’t help Salah when he stepped up to take his penalty), and eventually, a winning penalty from a Liverpool superstar – Sadio Mane. – SportsMole
