25 January 2024 , 00:00
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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted his team have "the exact same interest" as Egypt when it comes to the return of star forward Mohamed Salah.
Salah, who began the Africa Cup of Nations wearing the captain's armband for Egypt, was forced off injured in his country's group stage draw with Ghana. The extent of the issue wasn't immediately clear, but the player's agent indicated it was "worse than expected".
The Liverpool forward watched from the stands as Egypt booked their place in the round of 16 in dramatic fashion against Cape Verde. Howeverr, he is returning to England for treatment while his compatriots shoot for glory in Cote d'Ivoire, prompting Egypt manager Rui Vitoria to take a swipe at Klopp and Salah's agent Ramy Abbas Issa.
There is still hope Salah might make an early return, allowing him to play a part in February's final if Egypt make it that far without him. Klopp was asked about Liverpool's top scorer after his team crept into the Carabao Cup final with a draw at Fulham, though, and made his position clear.
"I cannot be part of that discussion," Klopp told beIN SPORTS. "Egypt and Liverpool have the exact same interest, we want Mo Salah fit as quick as possible.
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"If he stays there [in Africa] and they cannot do the proper treatment, that just delays everything - especially for Egypt if they go through the tournament. We bring him here, not to take him away from Egypt but to offer the best medical threatment, that's all we want.
"It's all agreed, if Egypt goes through to the final, it was always clear - if he's fit, Mo goes back. 100 percent. Mo wants that, we want that, we don't plan with Mo and think we can do a little bit here and there."
Do you expect Mo Salah to play any further part at AFCON? Have your say in the comments section
Egypt boss Rui Vitoria has questioned Liverpool over the Mo Salah situation (AFP via Getty Images)Vitoria's issue appeared to concern the timing of announcements about Salah. The first mentions of the injury potentially being worse than first feared came before the Cape Verde game, but the Pharaohs were able to take second spot in the group thanks to their draw - a third 2-2 scoreline in as many games - and Ghana and Mozambique playing out a draw of their own.
"We didn’t want to alarm anyone," Vitoria said."I didn’t think it was right for Liverpool, via any intermediary, to speak about this, because we had a tremendously important game today.
"Salah has always been with us. Now this game is over we will find the best solution for the treatment of the player. These are the facts. This is the situation.”
Mo Salah was unable to take part in Egypt's group stage draw against Cape Verde (AFP via Getty Images)Egypt will now take on the Democratic Republic of Congo in their round of 16 game. Sebastien Desabre's team also finished second in their group with three draws, the last of them a goalless affair against Tanzania.
The AFCON final is on February 11, with Liverpool playing three more times in the league before then. Klopp, however, was quick to shut down any suggestions Salah was anything other than devoted to Egypt's quest to go one better than their defeat in the last AFCON final two years ago.
"If somebody questions the loyalty of Mo Salah, he should ask himself if his loyalty is right," the German said. "Because Mo Salah is the most loyal Egyptian I've ever met in my life."