Souness Advise Klopp To Prevent Salah From AFCON Return

Liverpool icon Graeme Souness has told Jurgen Klopp to prevent Mohamed Salah from returning back to the Egypt squad at the Africa Cup of Nations after he returns back to full fitness.

Following an agreement between the club and the Egyptian federation, Salah returned to Liverpool to begin an “intensive rehabilitation programme” following a muscle injury he sustained during Egypt’s draw with Ghana last week.

If Salah heals in time to play for Egypt in the final (provided they advance) which is set for February 11, Klopp stated his talisman will “probably” return to international duty.

But with Liverpool leading the Premier League table by five points over the defending champions, Manchester City, Souness has urged Klopp to take all necessary steps to prevent Salah from playing in the competition again. Arguing that the player’s recuperation from hamstring injuries needs to be handled cautiously.

Souness told talkSPORT as echoed by Football365: “Jurgen Klopp is employed by Liverpool, and his job is to do the very best for the football club.

“For Liverpool, they need to get Salah back and fit, and then he does not go back to Africa.

“Hamstrings are the worst injuries; that is the injury that players hate.

“What they can do to you is you have your rest period, two weeks or three weeks, you come back and train a couple of weeks, and then say you’re ready.

“As a Liverpool supporter, I don’t want him to go back.”