Mo Salah offered early exit from Egypt – “violent” opponents and risk of injury – Liverpool FC

Mohamed Salah could join Virgil van Dijk in returning to Liverpool at the start of this international break, with an offer to skip Egypt’s trip to Mauritania next week.

Salah scored as Egypt beat Mauritania 2-0 at home on Friday night, making it three wins from three so far in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group.

Tuesday brings the reverse fixture at Stade Cheikha Ould Boidiya, an 8,200-capacity stadium in Nouakchott that has an artificial pitch.

Concerned about injuries on that surface and the “violent” nature of the Mauritanian team, Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan offered Salah – and any of his teammates – the opportunity to withdraw from the tie.

“If any player asks me not to play on artificial grass, I will agree,” Hassan told reporters after Friday’s victory, according to the Mirror.

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

Hassan’s comments come after earlier reports that Salah had asked to skip the game, although there is no official confirmation at this time.

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If Salah misses that qualifying game, the possibility increases that he could return to Liverpool as they prepare for next weekend’s clash with Chelsea at Anfield.

However, it would almost certainly be an unpopular decision if that were the case, with Salah already attracting widespread criticism in his home country, having opted for treatment at the AXA Training Center after being injured during AFCON in January.

Van Dijk will be among the first to return to Liverpool training next week after leaving the Dutch squad following a red card against Hungary.

There are few other players from Arne Slot’s first-team squad who are not on duty this month, with Vitezslav Jaros and Joe Gomez left out and Alisson, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa unavailable for selection due to injury.

Curtis Jones was belatedly called up to Lee Carsley’s England squad to face Greece and Finland, but has now withdrawn from this latest game to deal with a personal matter.