Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have both sustained injuries while on international duty with Egypt and the Netherlands respectively.
Salah returned to the club’s Melwood training complex after he was forced off through injury against Swaziland in Egypt’s African Nations Cup qualifier in Cairo on Friday night.
The 26-year-old played a starring role at the Al-Salam Stadium, including scoring a goal from a direct corner kick, as the Pharaohs eased to a 4-1 victory.
Salah was expected to travel to Swaziland for the return fixture but assistant coach Hany Ramzy has since confirmed his absence and subsequent return to Liverpool.
He told reporters (via BBC Sport): “The initial diagnosis, according to the team doctor, is a strong muscle strain. It is not a tear. I think it is not serious.”
In a double blow for Jurgen Klopp, Van Dijk has also been ruled out of his nation’s second match for the international break, with the Dutch Football Association reporting that their captain is still suffering from an injury sustained against Southampton.
A statement read: “Oranje captain Virgil van Dijk will not travel to Belgium with the Dutch national team. The Liverpool defender is still suffering from a rib injury that he sustained last month in his club’s league game against Southampton.
READ MORE: Netherlands 3-0 Germany: Every player rated as van Dijk and Depay delight in historic Dutch win
“In consultation, it was therefore decided that the international, who scored yesterday at the Johan Cruijff ArenA for Oranjes’ first goal against Germany, will not travel.”
Ronald Koeman oversaw an emphatic 3-0 victory against Germany on Saturday night, with Van Dijk opening the scoring, before Memphis Depay and Liverpool team-mate Georginio Wijnaldum sealed Joachim Low’s fate.
The win takes Van Dijk and Co second in Group 1 of the Nations League, climbing above Germany while sitting just a point below World Cup winners France – they face Belgium on Tuesday in a friendly at the Heysel Stadium.
The post Mohamed Salah and Van Dijk injuries: Liverpool the international break’s biggest losers? appeared first on Squawka News.
From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2yiWucd
No comments:
Post a Comment