Topics: Jurgen Klopp, Mohamed Salah, Egypt, Cape Verde, Liverpool, Africa Cup of Nations
The Egyptian superstar suffered an injury in the 2-2 draw with Ghana, sparking concern over his availability for the rest of the tournament should Egypt make it out of their group.

Egypt are gearing up for a crucial Africa Cup of Nations showdown with Cape Verde on Monday but ahead of that fixture, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp made a shocking admission regarding Mohamed Salah's injury issue.

The revered Anfield sensation picked up a hamstring problem in the 2-2 draw with Ghana, sparking fears his AFCON campaign had come to an end. While the 31-year-old's campaign is not yet over, the Pharaohs admitted that he is set to miss their upcoming fixtures.

In a statement, the North African giants announced that their captain will be unavailable for their final group-stage game, a must-win encounter with Cape Verde, and the round of 16 should Rui Vitória's team progress to the knockout stage.

However, on the eve of that crucial fixture, Klopp threw his own spanner in the works, revealing after the Merseyside giants' 4-0 win over Bournemouth that the Premier League side are working to bring Salah back to Liverpool.

And the German tactician did not stop there. While he stressed that the club are yet to finalize this with the Egyptian national team, Klopp admitted that the English side are working to bring their player back to Melwood to undergo rehab and even cast doubt on Salah's ability to feature up until the final, should the Pharaohs go all the way.

"That's the plan. If that's already decided 100 percent I don't know, but that's the plan," the Liverpool boss said after the win, as quoted by the club's official website.

"However long he is out, I think probably everybody sees that it makes sense that he is doing the rehab with us or with our people. That's the plan, but if that's now written in stone already, I don't know."

This has not been officialized but the 56-year-old tactician stated that he expects Mohamed to return to Merseyside, saying: "[I spoke with him] directly after [the game], pretty much the night it happened. Since then, he's in contact with our doctor. The doc tells me the news, so I think he will be back."

As for whether Salah's Africa Cup of Nations tournament is over, Klopp stressed that this can only be determined by the medical staff. However, he identified the final as a hypothetical return date, which will not be music to the ears of Egypt fans, adding: "I'm not a doctor. I would say if Egypt qualify for the final and he is fit before the final then probably yes. Why not?

"That's clear, it's the tournament. Ivory Coast, I am sure it is a wonderful country, but we have no people from us there and their people have to take care of the players who are playing, so let's see."

Despite being one of the continent's biggest teams and the tournament's most successful nation in history, Egypt find themselves in a precarious situation in this year's Africa Cup of Nations. The Pharaohs have drawn their first two games 2-2 against Ghana and Mozambique, leaving them with only two points.

While they are currently second in the group, the North African giants will face first-placed Cape Verde in their upcoming tie. The Blue Sharks have already qualified for the round of 16 but will want to win the group and are thus expected to name a strong lineup on Monday.

Should Egypt lose this game and Ghana overcome Mozambique in the other fixture, Rui Vitoria's men could drop to third in the table. This is not an immediate elimination as the four best third-placed countries will progress but it could easily result in an early exit.

UPDATE

The Egyptian national team have now confirmed that Salah will return to England to undergo rehab in Liverpool. Furthermore, the Pharaohs have walked back their initial time line of returning for the quarterfinals, this time adding that they are hopeful if welcoming him back in time for the semifinals should they make it that far.