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The Reds forward, who has been in international service with his country, has tested positive in two successive swabs
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) confirmed that forward Mohamed Salah tested positive for coronavirus after initial confusion over the Liverpool star’s test result.
The EFA originally announced on Friday that Salah had tested positive before deleting the statement and posting a different announcement, saying that three players from Egypt and their opponents on Saturday, Togo, tested positive and will have a second test before the match.
But a follow-up statement from the EFA later on Friday confirmed that Salah’s second swab had also tested positive, meaning the 28-year-old will now be forced to self-isolate.
“Liverpool and Egyptian national team star Mohamed Salah has undergone a second test, and the results have confirmed that Salah tested positive for Covid-19,” a EFA statement said.
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“All necessary medical precautions have been taken in accordance with the global medical protocol and under the supervision of Dr. Mohamed Sutan, Head of the EFA Medical Committee, as well as Dr. Mohamed Abou El Ela, doctor of the National Team of Egypt.
“Although the first swab gave a positive result, the Egyptian FA has decided to carry out a second test to confirm the result.
“Salah is in great spirits and shows no symptoms of the virus. He has been isolated and the National Team doctor is in contact with Dr. Jim Moxon, Liverpool FC’s chief medical staff, regarding this matter.”
The news is a new blow for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who has already lost central defender Joe Gómez during this international break. The English international was injured during training and had to undergo knee surgery. Now he faces months away.
Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also long absent with injuries for the Premier League champions.
The only positive side for Liverpool is the case of Xherdan Shaqiri. He posted a false positive when he was initially diagnosed with coronavirus while on international service with Switzerland last month and did not have to miss a game after passing the second round of testing.
However, both Sadio Mane and Thiago Alcantara have previously tested positive and were forced to miss a Premier League visit to Aston Villa, which Liverpool lost 7-2 in an impressive collapse.
Salah had been called up for Egypt before a double header against Togo in qualifying for the African Cup of Nations. They play at home on Saturday before traveling to the West African nation for the second leg on Tuesday.
The forward was recently filmed dancing at his brother’s wedding., without social distancing or protection like masks. He has also trained with his Egyptian teammates, and reports in Africa now suggest that the continental Champions League final between two Egyptian teams, Al-Ahly and Zamalek, could be at risk.
The final of the CAF Champions League is scheduled for November 27.
Salah has been in excellent shape for Liverpool this season, scoring eight goals in the same number of Premier League games and 10 goals in 13 games in all competitions.
The Reds will now be sweating from the physical condition of their star attacker, before returning to English top flight action at home against current Premier League leaders Leicester City on November 21, followed by a clash in home of the Champions League against Atalanta four days later.
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