Tag: Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah  has made his much-anticipated return to Liverpool training following the Africa Cup of Nations as the club prepare to face Marseille in the Champions League.

A smiling Salah was put through his paces during a workout with the rest of the squad at the club’s training centre on the eve of the match in France.

The return of the Egypt forward has been a major talking point after he took aim at Liverpool in an explosive interview early last month.

Salah accused the club of throwing him “under the bus” after he was benched for three games in a row and said he had no relationship with manager Arne Slot.

But he appeared as a substitute in a 2-0 Premier League win against Brighton on December 13, providing an assist, and Slot subsequently said the club had moved on from the furore.

Last week the Liverpool boss said he welcomed Salah’s return, refusing to divulge the content of his conversations with the 33-year-old, whose team finished fourth at the Africa Cup of Nations.

 “Even if I had 15 attackers I still would have been happy if he would have come back, but that’s not our current situation,” the Dutchman said ahead of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with struggling Burnley.

Slot said before the Burnley game that he was unsure whether the forward would face Marseille on Wednesday.

But yesterday  Liverpool said Salah had been named in the 20-man squad for the trip to France.

 “Mohamed Salah is included having returned to the club after representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations,” a statement on the club’s official website said.

Liverpool are currently ninth in the league phase of the Champions League.

The top eight qualify automatically for the last 16 while teams placed from ninth to 24^th  face a play-off round.

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Salah is Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time with 250 goals in 421 appearances, winning two Premier League titles and the Champions League since joining from Roma in 2017.

He signed a lucrative new two-year contract last year as he played a starring role in guiding Liverpool to a record-equalling 20^th  English top-flight title.

But he has been a shadow of his former self during Liverpool’s struggles this season, managing just five goals in all competitions.

Liverpool’s Premier League defence collapsed with a run of six defeats in seven matches starting in late September.

The club are now unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions but 14 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Captain Mohamed Salah scored after 124 minutes to clinch a 3-1 extra-time victory for Egypt over plucky minnows Benin in an Africa Cup of Nations last-16 thriller in Agadir.

Marwan Attia put the Pharaohs ahead in the second half and Jodel Dossou equalised for the Cheetahs, taking the match to an additional 30 minutes in the southern Moroccan coastal city.

Yasser Ibrahim headed Egypt back in front in the first half of extra time, then Salah broke clear and beat goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou with a shot from outside the area for his 10th AFCON goal.

Salah, whose goals have helped Liverpool win many trophies, is seeking a first AFCON winners’ medal, having twice been a runner-up.

Record seven-time champions Egypt stay in Agadir to face title-holders Ivory Coast or Burkina Faso on Saturday in the quarter-finals.

Egypt changed 10 of the team that drew with Angola in their final group match seven days ago with only midfielder Ibrahim Adel retained.

Many AFCON teams assured of qualification for the knockout stage with a match to spare followed the example of Egypt and fielded sides composed largely of reserves.

Benin lacked captain and former Premier League striker Steve Mounie, who had not recovered from an undisclosed illness.

Egypt had a great chance to go in front after only eight minutes through Omar Marmoush, the 26-year-old who joined Manchester City at the beginning of last year from Eintracht Frankfurt.

He darted forward from the Egyptian half, gained possession and stayed ahead of two pursuing defenders only to be foiled by Dandjinou, who blocked the ball with his legs, then grasped it.

When Egypt threatened again soon after, centre-back Yohan Roche rescued Benin, clearing the ball as it was trickling toward the net.

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A collision between Mohamed Hamdy and Rodolfo Aloko led to a long delay, which ended with the Egyptian being carried off the field. Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh took his place in midfield.

While Egypt had more possession in the opening half, Benin held their own and it took a superb sliding tackle from Hamdy Fathy to halt a Benin counterattack.

An incident deep in added time illustrated how wary Benin were of Salah. When the captain gained possession just outside the box, he was immediately surrounded by three opponents.

Dandjinou rescued Benin 10 minutes into the second half when he bravely parried a close-range shot from Ramy Rabia after the ball ran loose to the defender following a corner.

As the match passed the hour mark, it began to open up. A Salah attempt to chip the ball into the net was foiled by leaping Dandjinou.

Then, a parry from 37-year-old Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy prevented substitute Dossou giving Benin a shock lead.

Attia ended the goalless stalemate when Marmoush pushed the ball back to the midfielder and, from just outside the box, he side-footed it into the roof of the net.

Benin refused to accept defeat, though, attacked constantly and levelled on 83 minutes through 33-year-old Dossou.

El Shenawy did superbly to palm a Mohamed Tijani cross away from his goal, but the ball fell invitingly for Dossou, and he pushed it into the net.

Egypt regained the lead seven minutes into extra time, and this time Attia was the creator. He crossed after a short corner and a looping Ibrahim header evaded Dandjinou and landed in the net.

Salah then put the outcome beyond doubt with his third goal of the tournament.

Mohamed Salah’s penalty gave Egypt victory over South Africa as the seven-time champions survived playing the second half with 10 men to book a place in the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a game to spare.

Having gone ahead through Salah’s contentiously-awarded spot kick in the 45th minute, the Pharaohs swiftly found themselves at a numerical disadvantage when right-back Mohamed Hany received a second booking during added time at the end of the first half.

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Bafana Bafana made an attacking change at the break, replacing Thalente Mbatha with Sipho Mbule, but spent much of the second period struggling to find a way past goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, whose side managed to retain a counter-attacking threat.

With his defence resolute in front of him, El Shenawy made a vital late save to hold Aubrey Modiba’s uclose-range shot set up by Burnley forward Lyle Foster’s clever backheel, and also dealt with Siyabonga Ngezana’s weak header deep into injury time.South Africa were denied a potential penalty for handball after the clock had ticked past 90 minutes, with Burundian referee Pacifique Ndabihawenimana going to look at the incident on the pitchside monitor.

Angola’s draw with Zimbabwe earlier on Thursday means that Egypt are guaranteed a place in the last 16, while Hugo Broos’ team are two points above the two Group B underdogs.

Mohamed Salah has shown no signs of being distracted by the uncertainty surrounding his future at Liverpool as he prepares to lead Egypt into the Africa Cup of Nations, Pharaohs coach Hossam Hassan said.

 “Salah’s morale in training is very high, as if he were just starting out with the national team, and I believe he will have a great tournament with his country,” Hassan told reporters ahead of Egypt’s opening AFCON game against Zimbabwe in Agadir today.

 “I feel his motivation is very, very strong. Salah is an icon and will remain so. He is one of the best players in the world, and I support him in everything he does,” Hassan added.

Salah did not start any of Liverpool’s last five games before departing for the Cup of Nations in Morocco and things came to a head following the recent Premier League draw at Leeds United when he claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” by his coach at Anfield, Arne Slot.

That suggested a move away from the troubled Premier League champions during the January transfer window was a real possibility.

 “I don’t consider what happened to him to be a crisis. These things often happen between players and coaches,” Hassan added. “We’ve been in contact with him by phone from the beginning, and I met with him when he joined the national team camp. His focus is entirely on the tournament.”

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Salah, 33, is aiming to lead Egypt to a record-extending eighth AFCON title in Morocco. He has never won the continental title, but ended up on the losing side in final defeats by Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal in 2022.

His goals this year have already helped Egypt qualify for the World Cup.

“Whenever Salah’s performances dip with his club, he regains his strength with the national team and becomes even better, whether by contributing to goals or scoring himself. Then he returns to his club even stronger,” Hassan added.

 “He needs to win the cup by helping us and by helping himself.”

Egypt will also face South Africa and Angola in Group B at the Cup of Nations, with all three of their games in the first round being played in Agadir.

Mohamed Salah marked his eagerly awaited Liverpool return with an assist as Arne Slot’s side beat Brighton thanks to a Hugo Ekitike double.

Victory pushed the Reds up to sixth as they extended their unbeaten run to five games following a first win at Anfield since November 4.

All eyes were on Salah, who returned to the squad after he was left out for Liverpool’s midweek Champions League win at Inter Milan following his extraordinary outburst last weekend at Leeds United.

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Named on the bench by Slot, the Egyptian forward came on in the 26th minute after defender Joe Gomez was forced off with an injury and Dominik Szoboszlai slotted in at right-back.

Earlier, Gomez played his part in Liverpool’s opener as his header found Ekitike, who took one touch and volleyed past Bart Verbruggen after just 46 seconds – the quickest Premier League goal of the season so far.

Brighton had chances to level but failed to take them, with an outstretched leg from Alisson denying Diego Gomez, who was through on goal, before Gomez also missed an open goal after the break.

Mohamed Salah will feel like he is letting down 50 million people in Egypt by having his role reduced at Liverpool, according to ex-Egypt striker Mido, who believes the forward must move to the Saudi Pro League.

In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, the ex-Tottenham striker, who won the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, reflected on his own career to explain Salah’s Anfield predicament and also believes Jamie Carragher was wrong to criticise Salah.

“I’ve been in this situation before. When the Liverpool game is on, all of Egypt are there in front of the TV waiting for Salah to play, waiting for him to score a goal. They all feel that their son is playing today in the best league in the world. They are proud of him.

“This puts him under so much pressure to play and to be involved. He’s not a regular guy. He’s the king here in Egypt. People have to understand that.

“It was the same for me when I was playing for Tottenham, for example. All of Egypt was waiting for the game. All of Egypt were sitting there in the coffee shops waiting for me to play today. They were proud of me. They are proud of Salah. And this puts you under pressure. I’ve been in this situation.

“Sometimes I didn’t accept to sit on the bench, and I was really frustrated. Not because I’m arrogant. Not because I felt that I was bigger than the club, but because I know my people back home are waiting for me.

“There are more than maybe 40 or 50 million people waiting for the game, so if I’m not playing, I let them down. This is how I felt.

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“So it’s the same for Salah, but 10 times more than me because Salah has achieved much more than me in the game.

“I think he should leave. I think it’s time for him to leave.

“If you lose this confidence with the manager, it’s hard to be fixed. But if he leaves, he must leave from the big door, if you know what I mean. He’s done so much for Liverpool. He’s a legend.

“I totally disagree with Jamie Carragher’s comments on the situation. Jamie Carragher is a legend for Liverpool, and he played the game and he should know more.

“He should know that football players sometimes they get emotional and then when they retire, sometimes they also regret it. We’ve all been into these situations.

“I expected Liverpool legends also to protect Salah a little bit. He’s maybe one of the best three or four players that ever played for Liverpool. He deserves more respect from the Liverpool legends, especially Jamie Carragher.”

Mohamed Salah reported for Liverpool training on Tuesday as doubts grow about the star’s future at the Premier League champions with Saudi clubs intent on making a move for the striker in the winter transfer window.

The 33-year-old Egypt forward was left out of Liverpool’s squad for their Champions League tie at Inter Milan on Tuesday following his extraordinary public criticism of Reds manager Arne Slot after he was left on the bench for the third consecutive game.

Salah said after the 3-3 draw with Leeds on Sunday that he felt like he had been “thrown under the bus” by Liverpool and no longer had a relationship with Slot, sparking reports that Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer in history could be on his way out of Anfield in January despite signing a lucrative new contract in April.

He posted a picture of himself training alone in Liverpool’s weights room on Tuesday.

Salah’s outburst has piqued interest in Saudi Arabia with a source at the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) telling AFP it will do “whatever it can” to buy him.

 “We follow Salah’s position thoroughly and believe there can be a move either by loan or buying his contract,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Asked at a pre-match press conference in Milan on Monday whether Salah, who has scored 250 times for Liverpool since signing from Roma in 2017, had played his last game for the Reds, Slot replied: “I have no clue.”

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 “He has every right to feel what he feels, but he doesn’t have the right to share it with the media,” Slot added.

The Saudi source told AFP there were “no direct negotiations or talks with the club at the moment but there will be a move at the right moment”.

The PIF source said the Gulf monarchy wanted to sign the Egyptian winger in January to join stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League.

PIF holds a 75 percent share in Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad, but the source said it was not alone in wanting the Arab world’s biggest football star.

 “There is a competition inside the Saudi league who will bring Salah,” the source said, adding that the Al Qadsiah club backed by Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil and gas company Aramco was also keen.

Ronaldo plays for Al-Nassr, Salah’s former Liverpool team-mate Darwin Nunez is at Al-Hillal, another former Premier League player of the season N’Golo Kante is at Al-Ittihad, but Salah is the biggest star from an Arab country along with Paris Saint-Germain’s Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi.

Salah, who was not even used as a substitute at Elland Road, is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations after next weekend’s home Premier League match against Brighton.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is destroying his legacy at the club with his fiery reaction to being left out of the side, former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said.

Salah has failed to start their last three matches and lashed out at the club and coach Arne Slot following Saturday’s 3-3 Premier League draw with Leeds United, saying he had been made a scapegoat for their poor start to the season.

The Egyptian, who signed a two-year contract extension in April, has become an iconic figure in an eight-year spell at Liverpool in which he has won two Premier League titles and scored 250 goals in all competitions.

However, he has scored just five goals and appeared in 19 games in all competitions this season.

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“He is absolutely destroying his legacy at Liverpool,” Rooney said on his podcast. “It would be sad for him to throw it all away. He’s gone about it all wrong.

“Arne Slot has to show his authority and pull him in and say, ‘you are not travelling with the team, what you said is not acceptable.’

“Take yourself off to AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) and let everything calm down. If I was him there would be no way he would be in the team.”

Salah had said he felt as if he had been “thrown under the bus” with Liverpool failing to reproduce their title-winning form from last season.

They are ninth in the current campaign, 10 points behind leaders Arsenal after 15 games.

“If anything, he has thrown Liverpool under the bus with his words… ,” Rooney said. “I am sure over the next couple of years he will regret saying what he has.”

Virgil van Dijk says Mohamed Salah’s omission from Liverpool’s team for a second successive match shows no player at the club has “unlimited credit”.

The Egypt international was an unused substitute for Sunday’s win at West Ham and was on the bench for the 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland on Wednesday.

It was the first time in his Anfield career that he had not started in back-to-back league matches.

The forward was brought on for the second half against Sunderland but struggled to make an impact and is now goalless in five matches.

Salah has scored just four Premier League goals for the struggling defending champions this season, in stark contrast to his haul of 29 last season.

Liverpool captain Van Dijk was asked after the Sunderland draw whether Salah’s omission had sent a message to the dressing room.

 “That’s always been the case,” he said. “It’s not like you have unlimited credit, everyone has to perform.

 “Mo has been doing that but the manager made that decision in the last two games. We all want the best for the club.

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 “I am pretty sure Mo will still be a big part of what we are trying to achieve because he is an amazing player and he has shown it consistently.”

Van Dijk praised playmaker Florian Wirtz, whose shot deflected in off Sunderland defender Nordi Mukiele for a late Liverpool equaliser that left them eighth in the table.

The German, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer transfer window for £116 million ($155 million), is showing encouraging signs after a tough start to life at Anfield.

 “There’s a very good reason why a club like us bought him,” said Van Dijk. “He’s an outstanding, world-class player, in my eyes, who can only become even better but it will take a bit of time.

 “For him he has to stay level-headed. Don’t get dragged into the outside world of when it’s very good or very bad and don’t get dragged into the numbers game.

 “Nowadays there are a lot of eyes on you if you score goals or have an assist or keep clean sheets but it is also about what you see and the contribution you have for the team.”

Ghana, Cape Verde inch closer to Mundial

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah scored twice to help Egypt beat Djibouti 3-0 in Casablanca yesterday and qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The 33-year-old has netted nine times in a marathon qualifying campaign that began two years ago, and victory for Egypt gave them an unassailable five-point lead in Group A with one round remaining.

Twice African Footballer of the Year, Salah helped Liverpool win the Premier League a record-equalling 20th time last season, and captured the Golden Boot award with 29 goals.

But the Egypt captain has lost his spark with Liverpool this season, scoring just three goals in nine matches in all competitions.

After Ibrahim Adel put Egypt ahead on eight minutes, Salah netted six minutes later and again on 84 minutes to complete the scoring.

While Egypt have won the Africa Cup of Nations a record seven times, they have been less successful in World Cup qualifying, qualifying for the tournament just four times in 15 attempts – in 1934, 1990, 2018 and now 2026.

Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey scored as Ghana trounced the Central African Republic 5-0 in Meknes, and need one point from their final match at home to Comoros to qualify.

Mohammed Salisu, Alexander Djiku, captain Jordan Ayew 71 and Kamaldeen Sulemana were the other scorers for the Black Stars, who led 1-0 at half-time.

Cape Verde came from two goals behind in Tripoli to draw 3-3 with Libya and edge closer to a first World Cup appearance.

The island nation of about 550,000 inhabitants off the coast of Senegal will clinch first place in Group D if they defeat Eswatini in Praia on Monday.

Known as the Blue Sharks, the Cape Verdeans are two points ahead of Cameroon, who beat Mauritius 2-0 in Saint-Pierre with Manchester United striker Bryan Mbeumo among the goals.

Cape Verde have 20 points after nine rounds, two more than Cameroon, whose eight World Cup appearances in an African record.

Roberto Lopes, a defender with Republic of Ireland club Shamrock Rovers, conceded a first-minute own goal as Cape Verde made a disastrous start.

Telmo Arcanjo levelled for the island nation before goals either side of half-time from Ezoo el Mariamy and Mahmoud al Shalwi gave the Mediterranean Knights a 3-1 lead.

Sidny Cabral reduced the deficit and Cyprus-based Willy Semedo equalised on 82 minutes to set up a tense finish as Cape Verde sought a fourth goal and qualification.

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A match-winner did not materialise, but they will be expected to beat Eswatini, who remained winless in the group after surrendering a two-goal advantage in a 2-2 draw with Angola in Lobamba.

Cameroon, firm pre-qualifying favourites to win the group, had to secure maximum points in Mauritius to keep alive their hopes of overtaking Cape Verde, but needed 92 minutes to ensure success.

Dynamo Moscow midfielder Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu put the Indomitable Lions ahead on 57 minutes and Mbeumo struck in added time with his fourth goal of the qualifying campaign.

Cameroon complete their schedule at home to Angola in Yaounde and must win to have any hope of automatic qualification.

Should Cape Verde finish first, Cameroon would hope to finish among the four best-ranked runners-up and qualify for play-offs in November.

The winners of the African mini-tournament, comprising single-match semi-finals and a final, advance to six-nation inter-continental play-offs next March with two World Cup places up for grabs.

Eswatini looked set to end an eight-match winless run in the mini-league when South Africa-based Justice Figuareido pounced on long passes to score twice early in the second half.

Angola, with French coach Patrice Beaumelle in charge for the first time after the sacking of Portuguese Pedro Goncalves, halved the deficit through Jonathan Buatu.

Then slack Eswatini marking at a corner enabled Papel Ary to head the equaliser with 10 minutes of regular time remaining.