Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah set to be out for a month after ‘serious’ AFCON injury

Mohamed Salah might not play in Egypt’s remaining Africa Cup of Nations matches and Liverpool’s important Premier League games in February, as his agent shares an anticipated recovery time of “21-28 days,” for the injury that the player sustained during Egypt’s match against Ghana.

This week, the 31-year-old winger is scheduled to return to Liverpool for an “intense rehabilitation process.” Initially, the aim was to ensure the player’s full fitness before the AFCON semi-finals, assuming Egypt advances to the final four. However, hopes for both Liverpool and Egypt were dampened when Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, revealed in a recent X post that the player’s injury “is more serious than first thought.”

“Mohammed’s injury is more serious than first thought and he will be out for 21-28 days, and not 2 games,” Ramy Abbas Issa said on X

Given Salah’s consistent importance as a key player for both his club and country, his current injury disrupts team plans. Liverpool has confirmed that Salah, present at Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Cape Verde on Tuesday, January 23, will return to Merseyside on Wednesday.

Salah undergoing rehabilitation in Liverpool was the logical call: Jurgen Klopp

In a post-match press conference following Liverpool’s Premier League fixture against Bournemouth on Sunday, January 21, coach Jurgen Klopp explained the decision, stating that it is only logical for the Egyptian winger to undergo rehabilitation with the club’s medical staff in England.

“Mohamed Salah will return to the AXA Training Centre on Wednesday to begin an intensive ­rehabilitation programme with Liverpool’s ­medical team on the muscle injury he ­sustained with Egypt last week,” Liverpool’s statement on Salah’s injury.

During a press conference, Liverpool’s assistant manager addressed Salah’s injury, assuring fans that the club’s medical staff, with prior experience in treating him, would handle the situation “smoothly.”

“It’s a proper tear in his hamstring so it’s expected (he will) return to play in three to four weeks if everything goes smooth and everything goes right…It will go smooth and it will go right because of how we’ve treated his body before.” Pepijn Lijnders said on Salah’s injury

At present, Liverpool leads the Premier League table with a five-point edge over second-placed Manchester City. Since his 34.3 million euros transfer from AS Roma in 2017, Salah has missed just two matches due to injury.

Salah currently shares the title of highest goalscorer in the ongoing season with City’s Erling Haaland, making his absence pose a significant challenge for Klopp’s side, especially with crucial fixtures against Chelsea, Arsenal, and Fulham scheduled for February.