Mohamed Salah set to miss start of next season in Liverpool hammer blow

Mohamed Salah could miss the start of Liverpool’s 2021/22 season after the forward was named in Egypt’s preliminary squad for this summer’s Olympic Games.

The delayed Olympics, which will take place in Tokyo, will take place between Friday July 23 and Sunday August 8.

With next season set to kick off on August 7, if Salah is called upon for the Pharaohs, he will miss pre-season and at least one Premier League fixture.

Egypt U23 coach Shawky Gharib confirmed that he intends to select the Reds star as one of his overage players and will launch talks with Anfield bosses later this month.

"Egypt Under-23s team’s preliminary squad will be led by Mohamed Salah and Mohamed El-Shennawi alongside another goalkeeper,” he said on Sunday.

“Salah is currently one of the most important players in the world and it’s normal to call him for Egypt’s Olympic squad.

“We will start the official talks with Liverpool after the international break next March."

Salah is Egypt’s current captain and undoubted star and with 43 strikes on the international level, he is closing in on Hossam Hassan’s record of 68 goals for the nation.

Liverpool will understandably be reluctant to allow the 28-year-old to miss fixtures, as Jurgen Klopp's side plot a path to reclaiming the Premier League crown.

The champions are 19 points behind leaders Manchester City, with full focus now on finishing in the top-four ahead of another busy summer on Merseyside.

Salah’s international exploits caused an issue earlier in the campaign, when he tested positive for coronavirus during the November international break.

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    • Despite that, he is leading the race for the Premier League’s Golden Boot, having netted 17 times in just 25 league encounters so far this season.

    Klopp recently spoke of Salah’s importance to the Liverpool side, stretching far beyond his prolific form in front of goal.

    He said: “It is not often that I have to praise my own players, which of course I always like to do.

    “Mo is not only a goalscorer. He is developed football-wise as well – and is a very, very important player for us.

    “And hopefully he will be that for a very long time, of course.”

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