Mohamed Salah injury could dent Liverpool’s title hopes as update drops
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Mohamed Salah is arguably Liverpool’s most important player, but The Reds could be without their star man for some time with the Egyptian picking up a hamstring injury whilst at AFCON.
Last week, Egypt drew 2-2 with Ghana in their African Cup of Nations group game, but Egyptian fans were left with their heads in their hands when Salah was withdrawn before half-time through injury.
Playing for Egypt means a lot to Salah, who has won almost all there is to win in football, except for an international trophy with his country. The worry amongst many at the time was that the injury would have to be pretty serious for the winger to take himself off.
Perhaps more worried than fans of Egypt at the images of Salah sat on the pitch were Liverpool supporters. It’s since emerged that his injury is worse than first feared, and he’ll be out of action for close to a month, missing vital games for his club and country as a result.
Liverpool are on track to win four trophies
This isn’t just any season for Liverpool. Many fans thought the 2023/24 campaign would be a transitional one for the club after a complete midfield overhaul last summer, but it could end up being rather fruitful for Jurgen Klopp.
At the time of writing, Liverpool find themselves 2-1 up on aggregate in the Carabao Cup semi-final, with the second leg against Fulham due to be played this week, with Darwin Nunez and co likely to secure a spot in the final next month, which Labrokes has priced them at 1/2 to win.
In the Europa League, Liverpool have progressed to the knockout round, and won’t have to play a playoff game against one of the teams to have dropped down from the Champions League by virtue of winning their group. Ladbrokes has also priced them as the favourites for that competition, at 9/4.
Whilst not the favourites, with that going to reigning champions Man City, Liverpool are in the running to win the FA Cup too, and will face Norwich in the fourth round later this weekend, and they’re favourites to that tie at the price of 1/8.
However, the Premier League is the one that all Liverpool fans want to win, given Man City’s dominance over the competition in recent years. Despite leading the league table with over half the season having been played, Ladbrokes has City as the favourites at 1/2, with Liverpool at 5/2.
Could Mohamed Salah’s injury dent Liverpool’s title hopes
Mohamed Salah is one of Liverpool’s most important players, and he has been pretty much since he joined from Roma in the summer of 2017. The winger has 14 goals and eight assists in just 20 games for Liverpool so far this season, and is one of the main reasons by The Reds have performed as well as they have so far this campaign.
Salah reported for international duty with Egypt for AFCON after Liverpool’s 4-2 victory over Newcastle on New Year’s Day, and up to now, has missed his side’s 2-0 win over Arsenal in the FA Cup and their 4-0 trashing of Bournemouth two weeks later.
Fans were hoping Mohamed Salah would only be missing for a few league games, including their trip to Bournemouth last week, and game against Chelsea at Anfield on January 31, but he could be absent for a lot longer…
Salah was substituted before half time during Egypt’s second group stage game, this time against Ghana, leaving fans of his country and club incredibly worried. With the winger holding his hamstring, Liverpool are to be without their winger for a prolonged period, while they have enough quality to get them through the Europa League and likely the Carabao Cup too, winning the Premier League may be too much to ask if Salah’s injury layoff is longer than the four weeks that has been reported.
Some hoped that his withdrawal was nothing more than a precaution ahead of the group stages, and while Egypt’s manager Rui Vitoria stated that he didn’t think the injury is ‘dangerous’, it’s now emerged that the winger might not return until the end of February, despite traditionally being a quick healer.
Check out Labrokes’ piece on the odds of Liverpool winning a quadruple, with the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup all this season.
All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.
