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Tag: Salah

  • Salah scores on return as Liverpool beat Brentford

    Salah scores on return as Liverpool beat Brentford

    Mohamed Salah scored on his return from injury as Liverpool beat Brentford to open up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

    Darwin Nunez put Liverpool ahead with a superb chip before Alexis Mac Allister poked in a second at the Gtech Community Stadium.

    Salah, back from a hamstring problem sustained on Egypt duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, got on the scoresheet with a crisp finish.

    Ivan Toney pulled a goal back for Brentford, but Cody Gakpo added the gloss for Liverpool with a late goal.

    Read Also: EPL: Salah scores as Liverpool beat Brentford 4-1

    The only sour points for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp were more additions to a lengthening injury list.

    Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota limped off before half-time, while Nunez was substituted at the interval.

    This was a victory that oozed class as Liverpool, who might have identified this as a potentially tricky assignment, bid to win a 20th league title.

    Nunez delivered its standout moment as he broke clear to latch on to Jota’s header and then produced a breathtaking finish.

  • AFCON 2023: Salah hits back at critics on commitment to Egypt

    AFCON 2023: Salah hits back at critics on commitment to Egypt

    Mohamed Salah has hit back at those who questioned his commitment to Egypt after he returned to Liverpool to recover from his hamstring injury.

    After limping off the pitch during the 2-2 draw with Ghana at the African Cup of Nations, it has been revealed that Salah’s injury is worse than first feared.

    The winger is likely to be sidelined for three weeks, which could allow him to play in the AFCON final should Egypt progress that far.

    However, the decision for the 31-year-old to fly back to Anfield to undergo treatment has been criticized, not least by Pharaohs legend Ahmed Hassen who accused the current Egypt captain of ‘plotting his departure’ from the tournament.

    Egypt manager Rui Vitoria was also unimpressed by Jurgen Klopp commenting on the matter, with the Reds boss subsequently launching a passionate defence of his star player.

    Salah has now broken his silence on the matter, posting on Twitter: ‘

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    “Yesterday I started the treatment and rehabilitation program and I will do everything possible to be ready as soon as possible and return to the national team as was agreed upon from the beginning.

    “I also love it [Egypt] and its people.”

    Salah finished the statement with the words ‘try harder’, seemingly a dig at his critics.

    The player’s agent Ramy Abbass Issa was less polite to the detractors, launching a scathing attack on what he called ‘hyperventilating influencers’.

    “The same individuals and “influencers” who get weak in the knees when they happen to bump into Mohamed in person and beg for “follows” or selfies, tried to capitalize on an unfortunate injury and questioned Mohamed’s commitment to his country,’ Issa tweeted.

    “They did this looking for fame, clicks and “likes”. I want to thank those who did the honourable thing and pointed out how ridiculous and cheap that was. I took names. In both cases.

    “Most importantly, to the vast majority of you, who support Mohamed, my message to you is not to worry, because your global icon, the one you helped create, is already too big to be brought down by social media.

    “No hyperventilating or foaming-in-the-mouth ‘influencer’ is going to change that.”

    Egypt are set to take on DR Congo in the AFCON round-of-16 on Sunday.

  • Injured Salah to be sidelined  three  to four  weeks

    Injured Salah to be sidelined  three  to four  weeks

    Mohamed Salah has returned to England for treatment on a hamstring tear to give him the best possible chance to be available for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)  final, should Egypt make it, Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders said.

    Salah was forced to watch from the stands as Egypt secured their passage to the last 16 of the competition in dramatic fashion on Monday after a 2-2 draw with Cape Verde.

    The two-time African player of the year hobbled off during his country’s second game of the tournament against Ghana, but the Egyptian federation have maintained hope he could return should the Pharaohs progress far in the tournament.

    However, Lijnders suggested that only the final on February 11 is realistic, even if Salah’s recovery goes as planned.

     “They made a detailed scan and it came out that it was a proper tear in his hamstring. So it means his expected return to play is between three to four weeks if everything goes smooth and everything goes right,” Lijnders said at a press conference ahead of the Reds’ League Cup semi-final, second leg against Fulham on Wednesday.

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     “Knowing Mo it will go smooth and it will go right because (of) how he’s treated his body before.”

    He has never won the trophy and twice fallen short in the final, to Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal two years ago.

    But Lijnders hit back at criticism claiming that Salah was prioritizing his club commitments over leading his country.

     “The one you should never doubt the commitment of is Mo Salah. I never met a guy, a player but also a human being, who is more committed to the life of being a professional football player,” added Lijnders. “I know the country is devastated losing him. We were devastated to hear that he got injured. He plays the first game, scores, assists, captain, massive importance of course.

     “But the only reason why our medical team and their medical team decided for him to come back is to give him the best possible chance to be available in the final, if Egypt reaches the final.”

    Salah’s injury is also a blow to Liverpool’s quest for just a second Premier League title in 34 years.

    Jurgen Klopp’s men are five points clear at the top of the table, but will now be without their top goalscorer for crucial matches at home to Chelsea and away to Arsenal.

  • Salah has ‘proper tear in his hamstring’

    Salah has ‘proper tear in his hamstring’

    Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has a “proper tear in his hamstring”, says assistant manager Pep Lijnders.

    Salah, 31, was replaced during Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast on Thursday.

    He watched from the stands as Egypt reached the last 16 thanks to a dramatic 2-2 draw with Cape Verde on Monday.

    “It’s expected [he will] return in three to four weeks if everything goes smooth,” said Lijnders.

    “It will go smooth and it will go right because of how we’ve treated his body before.”

    Liverpool said Salah will return to the club on Wednesday for an “intensive rehabilitation programme”.

    They said his injury was “worse than first feared”, but he will be treated with a “view to being back in action as soon as possible for club and country, giving him the best chance to return to compete at Afcon”.

    On Sunday Egypt play the runners-up in Group F for a place in the quarter-finals. The final takes place on 8 February.

    On Sunday Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said it “makes sense” for Salah to do his rehabilitation at the club and rejoin Egypt if he recovers in time and they remain in the competition.

    “I always said before what I’m really happy about is the medical team of Egypt and the medical team of Liverpool really worked together and were in close contact and both made this decision,” said Lijnders.

    “It’s an example of how international football and club football should operate to put the player in the centre.”

    Egypt’s record appearance-maker Ahmed Hassan has said Salah should stay with the team “even if he only had one leg to stand on”.

    “The one you should never doubt the commitment of is Mo Salah,” said Lijnders.

    “I know the country is devastated to lose him. He is massive. The only reason ours and their medical team decided for him to come back is to give the best chance to make the final if Egypt reach it.”

    Read Also: Injured Salah sure of winning AFCON

    The most recent of Egypt’s seven Africa Cup of Nations titles came in 2010, a year before Salah made his debut. Egypt were runners-up in 2017 and 2021.

    Salah scored a late penalty to help Egypt draw 2-2 with Mozambique in their opening game.

    He said this week that Egypt will win the Africa Cup of Nations “sooner or later”.

    “I would love to win it,” he said. “It will happen somehow – that is what I believe. Whatever I believe, I achieve.

    “I have won everything possible but this one, not yet. Everybody knows what it means to any player to win an Africa Cup.”

    BBC

  • Injured Salah sure of winning AFCON

    Injured Salah sure of winning AFCON

    Mohamed Salah is convinced of  winning  the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt “sooner or later”.

    The Liverpool forward is set to miss his country’s next two games with a hamstring injury sustained in the 2-2 draw with Ghana on Thursday.

    The Pharaohs must beat Cape Verde in their final group game today  to be sure of qualification from their group.

    “I would love to win it, absolutely. It will happen somehow, that is what I believe,” Salah, 31, said. “Whatever I believe I achieve, so sooner or later it will happen.”

    Salah has won the Premier League and the Champions League in a glittering career with Liverpool.

    The forward has only experienced heartache with his country so far though, losing to Cameroon in Gabon in the 2017 final, and at the last edition in Cameroon two years ago to Senegal.

    “I have won everything possible but this one not yet,” Salah said.

    Salah made his Egypt debut in 2011, a year after they won the last of their record seven Cup of Nations titles.

    “Everybody knows what it means to any player to win an Africa Cup,” he said.

    Read Also: AFCON 2023: Alhassan out of Guinea Bissau game

    “We were unlucky at the last one and also in Gabon. The players are very motivated to win the tournament. We all want to win it.”

    Rui Vitoria’s team needed Salah’s injury-time penalty to draw 2-2 with Mozambique in their first match, and then had to come from behind twice to hold Ghana after Salah went off injured.

    If they beat Cape Verde, who have already secured first place in Group B, Egypt will advance to a last-16 tie in San-Pedro on 28 January.

    Salah has already been ruled out of that game too, and is only expected to return for a quarter-final on 2 or 3 February, should Egypt make it that far.

    “My injury is still there but the most important thing now is to speak about the game,” Salah said. “At the end of the day we are not doing great at the moment but we have a fantastic team and a great coach, so we just need to stay focused.

    “I believe that with hard work everything is possible, so we just need to win one game to qualify and we go from there.

    “We are very positive, we have great players and a great team, and we just need to fight and see what will happen.”

  • Salah penalty saves Egypt’s blushes  against Mozambique

    Salah penalty saves Egypt’s blushes  against Mozambique

    Mohamed Salah scored a 97th -minute penalty to spare the blushes of Egypt as they rescued a 2-2 draw against Mozambique and denied their opponents a first ever Africa Cup of Nations win in a Group B clash at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium yesterday.

    Salah’s spot-kick went in off the post after Mozambique defender Domingos Macandza committed a foul in the box. The penalty was awarded following a Video Assistant Referee check.

    Egypt made a fast start in Abidjan thanks to a goal inside two minutes from Mostafa Mohamed, but Mozambique made them pay for spurned opportunities by scoring twice in three second-half minutes through Witi and substitute Clesio Bauque.

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    But they were denied a first victory at the Cup of Nations in their 13th  game as Salah kept his nerve.

    “It’s heartbreaking to not win like that but it will only make us stronger. We are not thinking small, we are thinking big,” Mozambique midfielder Guima said.

    Egypt now look ahead to a second pool fixture against Ghana on Thursday, while Mozambique meet Cape Verde on Friday.

  • Salah leads Egypt at African Cup of Nations

    Salah leads Egypt at African Cup of Nations

    Mohamed Salah will lead Egypt at the African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire , skippering a 27-man squad named by coach Rui Vitoria.

    The group includes all but two of the starting line-up for the last Cup of Nations final two years ago, when Egypt lost on penalties to Senegal in Yaounde.

    But there is a first call-up for 22-year-old Ahmed Nabil Kouka, who in June helped Egypt’s under-23 side qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics and also played for Cairo giants Al Ahly at this month’s Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.

    Egypt compete in Group B at the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire , starting their campaign in Abidjan against Mozambique on Jan. 14. They also meet Ghana and the Cape Verde Islands in their opening round group.

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    Squad:

    Goalkeepers: Mohamed Abou Gabal (National Bank), Ahmed El Shennawy (Pyramids), Mohamed El Shennawy (Al Ahly), Mohamed Sobhi (Zamalek)

    Defenders: Mohamed Abdelmoneim (Al Ahly), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Ali Gabr, Osama Galal, Mohamed Hamdy (all Pyramids), Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Ahmed Hegazi (Al Ittihad), Omar Kamal (Future), Ahmed Samy (Pyramids)

    Midfielders: Emam Ashour, Marwan Attia (both Al Ahly), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Hamdi Fathi (Al Wakrah), Mahmoud Hamada (Al Masry), Ahmed Nabil Kouka (Al Ahly), Ahmed Zizo (Zamalek)

    Forwards: Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids), Mahmoud Kahraba (Al Ahly), Ahmed Hassan Kouka (Pendikspor), Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt), Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Trabzonspor).

  • Gaza: Salah issues emotional Christmas message

    Gaza: Salah issues emotional Christmas message

    Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah said that families grieving for their loved ones in Gaza should not be forgotten, as he issued an emotional Christmas message marking only his second comment on the war in the enclave.

    Salah posted a black-and-white picture of a Christmas tree on his social media pages, saying he was approaching Christmas with a heavy heart amid the fighting in Gaza, which has been under intense bombardment by Israel since Hamas militants launched a cross-border rampage on Oct. 7.

    Israel’s ensuing bombardment of Gaza has killed more than 20,400 people and wounded at least 50,000, according to authorities in the Hamas-ruled strip.

    Read Also: EPL: Salah scores 200th Liverpool goal as Reds go top

    “With the brutal war going on in the Middle East, especially the death and destruction in Gaza, this year we get to Christmas with very heavy hearts and we share the pain of those families who are grieving the loss of their loved ones,” Salah said.

    “Please do not forget them and do not get used to their suffering. Merry Christmas,” Salah wrote to his more than 63 million followers on Instagram and almost 19 million on X.

    Salah had faced some criticism in his native Egypt after staying silent on the issue for more than a week after the war started, with many fans comparing his stance to other Arab sports figures who have been more vocal about it.

  • EPL: Salah scores 200th Liverpool goal as Reds go top

    EPL: Salah scores 200th Liverpool goal as Reds go top

    Mohamed Salah scored his 200th Liverpool goal as Jurgen Klopp’s side produced a late comeback against 10-man Crystal Palace to move top of the Premier League and increase the pressure on former boss Roy Hodgson.

    Salah became only the fifth player to reach that landmark for the club, joining Ian Rush, Roger Hunt, Gordon Hodgson and Billy Liddell, when he ignited the fightback with a 76th-minute equaliser.

    It was Harvey Elliott who delivered the decisive moment inside the first of 10 minutes of added time, producing a stunning strike from the edge of the penalty area to lift Liverpool above Arsenal.

    Salah’s goal arrived just 98 seconds after Jordan Ayew was dismissed for a second bookable offence, and the visitors had failed to land a shot on target prior to that moment.

    Palace, booed off by their supporters following a disappointing home loss to Bournemouth on Wednesday, were on course to deliver a surprise blow to the Red’s title aspirations following Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty.

    The game had continued for more than one minute after Jarell Quansah caught Mateta when attempting to clear a cross before the video assistant referee intervened – but referee Andy Madley did not take long to award Palace a spot-kick after being sent to the pitchside monitor.

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    Palace had seen a penalty decision in their favour overturned during the first half when Madley took three minutes to review a challenge by Will Hughes on Endo in the lead-up to Virgil van Dijk’s foul on Odsonne Edouard inside the box.

    Liverpool, though dominant, struggled throughout to break the hosts down and the returning Alisson came to his side’s rescue in stunning fashion in the first half when he pushed Jefferson Lerma’s first-time shot on to the post.

    The visitors again had the Brazilian to thank for another excellent stop to prevent Joachim Andersen providing a dramatic twist with a header from a free-kick in the 100th minute.

    Having eventually ended Palace’s spirited resistance, victory took the Reds one point above last season’s runners-up Arsenal, who travel to third-placed Aston Villa later on Saturday (17:30 GMT).

  • Liverpool’s Salah extends scoring streak

    Liverpool’s Salah extends scoring streak

    Liverpool moved level on points with Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the Premier League as Mohamed Salah extended his scoring streak at Anfield with a double in a 3-0 win over Brentford yesterday.

    The Egyptian took his tally for the season to 12, nine of which have come at Anfield, as Liverpool continued their perfect record at home this season.

    Nine of Salah’s goals have come from Darwin Nunez assists and the Uruguayan played provider to break the deadlock after being frustrated in front of goal earlier in the first half.

    Twice Nunez had the ball in the net only to be ruled offside.

    But his clever pass into Salah was met with a calm finish into the far corner to open the floodgates on 39 minutes.

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    Salah is the first player ever to score in each of Liverpool’s first six home league games of a season.

    Brentford had their chances as Alisson Becker was needed to make great saves to deny Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo.

    However, there was no way back for the Bees once Salah was left unmarked to head in Kostas Tsimikas’ cross to the back post on the hour mark.

    Diogo Jota then fired in the third 16 minutes from time as Liverpool made it nine wins and 27 goals from nine games at Anfield in all competitions this season.