LIVERPOOL, England: Liverpool defended Mohamed Salah against accusations he was showing a lack of commitment to Egypt by returning to his club from the Africa Cup of Nations to get treatment on a hamstring injury.
Salah, one of the most high-profile players at the Africa Cup, is scheduled to fly back to England on Wednesday and will “begin an intensive rehabilitation program,” Liverpool said, in an effort to get him healthy again before the end of the competition.
Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders said on Tuesday that Salah has a “proper tear in his hamstring” which is expected to keep the winger out for three to four weeks, backing up a timeline given by Salah’s agent on X, formerly Twitter.
Former Egypt international Ahmed Hassan said in British newspaper The Daily Mirror that Salah should be staying with the Egypt squad “no matter what, even if he only had one leg to stand on,” adding that the team captain “was plotting his departure from the Egypt camp.”
Lijnders was quick to downplay those comments.
“The one you should never doubt the commitment of is Mo Salah,” said Lijnders, who was speaking at a news conference a day before Liverpool plays Fulham in the English League Cup semifinals. “I’ve never met a guy — a player but also a human being — who is more committed to the life of being a professional football player.
“I know the country is devastated at losing him. We were devastated to hear he got injured. He plays their first (group) game, scores and assists and is captain. He’s massively important, 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 reach the final.”
Lijnders said some confusion might have been raised because Salah’s injury, which happened during Egypt’s second group game, wasn’t initially regarded as serious.
The Dutchman said it was in Salah’s best interests to be treated in Liverpool’s medical facility because it is a “stable environment” and there are “proper people who are committed and have time and can focus on his rehab process.
“What I’m really happy about is that the medical team of Egypt and the medical team of Liverpool really worked together and are in really close contact. We both made this decision. It’s an example how international and club football should (work). Put the player in the center and not the target of everyone.”
Egypt secured a place in the round of 16 on Tuesday by drawing with Cape Verde 2-2, with Salah cutting an animated figure on the sidelines during the game. It was a third straight group-stage draw for the Pharaohs, who lost the Africa Cup final on penalties to Senegal in the last edition.
Liverpool are top of the Premier League by five points and will play in the League Cup final on Feb. 25, should Jurgen Klopp’s team get past Fulham. The Reds hold a 2-1 lead from the first leg ahead of the return match in London on Wednesday.
Liverpool have won all three of their matches since Salah departed for the Africa Cup, scoring eight goals in the process without the team’s top scorer.
Liverpool defend Salah against accusations he is not committed to Egypt after injury
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Liverpool defend Salah against accusations he is not committed to Egypt after injury
- Salah is scheduled to fly back to England on Wednesday and will “begin an intensive rehabilitation program,” Liverpool said
- "The one you should never doubt the commitment of is Mo Salah,” said Lijnders
Newcastle oust 10-man Villa from FA Cup, Man City beat Beckham’s Salford
- Both Villa and Newcastle have failed to win the competition since the 1950s
LONDON: Newcastle beat 10-man Aston Villa 3-1 thanks to a double from Sandro Tonali to reach the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday as Marc Guehi scored his first goal for Manchester City in a 2-0 victory over fourth-tier Salford.
Both Villa and Newcastle have failed to win the competition since the 1950s and another opportunity for Unai Emery’s men to end a 30-year wait for silverware vanished after a first half red card for goalkeeper Marco Bizot.
Tammy Abraham had fired the home side in front with his first goal since returning to Villa last month.
But the game swung in the Magpies’ favor when Bizot charged off his line to wipe out Jacob Murphy and deny a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Newcastle’s fightback saved the officials from an embarrassing moment becoming more controversial when Lucas Digne’s handball, that was clearly inside the box, was given as a free-kick instead of a penalty.
With VAR not in operation at this stage of the competition, the decision could not be reviewed.
But Newcastle levelled from the resulting free-kick anyway as Tonali’s strike deflected past the helpless Emi Martinez.
Tonali has been linked with a move to Arsenal come the end of the season and the Italian showed why he is in-demand with a blistering strike from outside the box to turn the tie around.
Nick Woltemade then netted his first goal in 15 games to take Newcastle, who last lifted the trophy in 1955, into the last 16.
Owned by Manchester United legends David Beckham and Gary Neville, Salford were playing in the fourth round for the first time in their history.
The League Two side were humbled 8-0 when they faced City in the third round last season, but pushed Pep Guardiola’s men far closer on Saturday.
“They defended really well, so tight and we didn’t attack the spaces the way we should. The game was flat until we scored the second goal,” Guardiola said.
City took an early lead through Alfie Dorrington’s own goal, but there were only nine minutes left when England defender Guehi delivered the decisive blow with his maiden goal since signing from Crystal Palace in January.
- Burnley gamble backfires -
Third-tier Mansfield produced the upset of the day by winning 2-1 at Premier League Burnley to reach the fifth round for the first time since 1975.
Burnley went into the game bolstered by their first league win since October over Crystal Palace in midweek, but boss Scott Parker made nine changes and the gamble backfired.
Burnley took the lead through Josh Laurent’s 21st-minute goal, but Nigel Clough’s team, who sit in mid-table in League One, staged an impressive fightback in the second half.
Rhys Oates headed in the equalizer in the 53rd minute and Louis Reed capped a fine individual performance with a brilliant free-kick 10 minutes from full-time.
Ten-man West Ham edged through as the in-form Crysencio Summerville clinched a 1-0 win at League One Burton after extra-time.
Freddie Potts was sent off soon after Summerville’s strike in the first period of extra-time, but the Premier League strugglers held on to survive a gruelling fourth round clash.
After eliminating Manchester United in round three, Brighton are aiming to deliver another upset when they visit Liverpool later at Anfield.
