Liverpool's star forward Mohamed Salah is under pressure as he faces a challenging situation regarding his fitness and participation in the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Reports indicate that Salah's return to Liverpool for rehabilitation from a muscle injury is imminent, but his dream of playing in the AFCON is not yet over. Graeme Souness, a former Liverpool player and manager, has expressed that Liverpool must not allow Salah to return to Egypt's AFCON duty. Despite the possibility of Egypt reaching the final, the new 21/28 day recovery timeframe makes it difficult to see Salah being ready for it. Liverpool's medical team is focused on giving Salah the best chance to be ready for the final, should Egypt advance. However, the situation surrounding Salah at AFCON has been marked by claim and counter-claim, denials, silence, and revelations, with the institutions involved seemingly failing to protect the player's interests, as highlighted in a series of tweets by Simon_Hughes__. Liverpool have released a statement, and Pep Lijnders, Liverpool's assistant manager, has emphasized Salah's commitment, stating that the only reason for his return is to give him the best possible chance of being ready for the final if Egypt gets there.
Lijnders on Salah: "No-one should ever doubt the commitment of Mo Salah. I know the country is devastated losing him. The only reason the two medical teams decided for him to come back is to give him the best possible chance of being ready for the final if they get there."
Mohamed Salah’s AFCON has been a story of claim, counter-claim, denials, silence and revelations. Ultimately, the institutions supposedly trying to help him have achieved the opposite. https://t.co/sXzEkQac4b
Mohamed Salah will return to Liverpool on Wednesday as part of his rehab following a muscle injury 🤕 https://t.co/8h8DUbHlaw
Incredible night in Abidjan. Yet if any of the institutions around Mohamed Salah thought they were protecting him, it hasn’t worked. The reverse has happened. https://t.co/sXzEkQac4b
Liverpool have released a statement on Mo Salah... #BBCFootball #AFCON #lfc https://t.co/OhgcNBwTiF
Even if Egypt were to reach the AFCON final, difficult to see Mohamed Salah being ready for it given new 21/28 day timeframe. Looks like #LFC will have to keep finding a way to win without him until mid-February. https://t.co/heSMgLRHgG
EXCLUSIVE: Graeme Souness believes Liverpool must not let Mo Salah return to Egypt AFCON duty https://t.co/LH3EKeHVh0
Mohamed Salah set to return to Liverpool but AFCON dream isn't over yet https://t.co/d4xsT6HXVR
Mohamed Salah set to return to Liverpool but his AFCON dream isn't over yet https://t.co/d4xsT6Hq6j
Salah's fitness at Cup of Nations unclear as statement expected https://t.co/6llXP7jOLS https://t.co/pu08x0vxQW
Mohamed Salah: a short portrait of a footballer under pressure. From Abidjan. https://t.co/ZEFqWRBXor
Mohamed Salah, a portrait of a footballer under pressure. From Abidjan. https://t.co/ZEFqWRBXor
Mohamed Salah, a short portrait of a footballer under pressure. From Abidjan. https://t.co/ZEFqWRBXor