Liverpool’s Salah pulls out of internationals as Arsenal clash nears | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has withdrawn from international duty with Egypt, with just two weeks to go until they face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

CAIRO, EGYPT: Egyptian national team player Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring a goal during an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Egypt and Mauritania on October 11, 2024. (Photo by Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images)

On Saturday, Liverpool confirmed in a post on their club website that both Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah had returned early from international duty.

In van Dijk’s case, the reasoning was obvious. The player was sent off against the Netherlands in his first game, so he would have been suspended for their next match against Hungary anyway.

But no explanation for Salah’s return was given by Liverpool, with the winger having played and scored in Egypt’s opening game of the break, and with no apparent injury concern for the 32-year-old.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park on October 05, 2024. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The most likely explanation comes in quotes from Egypt boss Hossam Hassan, who recently told the media that he would excuse Salah from the second game if the player didn’t wish to play it.

The match is against Mauritania on an artificial pitch, and there were fears that both the opponent and the surface could present a significant injury risk.

“If any player asks me not to play on artificial turf, I will agree,” Hassan said.

“The Mauritanian team plays hard and with violent interventions, and their field is not the best. If Salah specifically asks me to do so, I will agree.”

LONDON, ENGLAND: Virgil Van Dijk supports an injured Alisson Becker of Liverpool before leaving the pitch during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park on October 05, 2024. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Egypt lead their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group by a significant distance, six points clear of their nearest competitor.

With just three games to go, Hassan evidently believes he can afford to drop his star man for once.

Van Dijk and Salah will now return to Liverpool to prepare for a week of games against Chelsea (H), RB Leipzig (A), and then Arsenal (A).