The Latest Update on Mo Salah's Injury
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is making strides towards a Reds comeback. The legendary striker rejoined team practices after suffering a crippling hamstring injury during the Africa Cup of Nations.
His field presence alongside teammates like Joe Gomez and Alisson signals a much-anticipated return against the Brentford bees in the upcoming Premier League clash.
Outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp hinted at Salah's imminent return. He emphasized Salah’s positive recovery and suggested he might join training sessions soon.
That is now a likely scenario. Salah was sidelined for up to four weeks. Fitness permitting, football pundits suggest he may be brought in as a substitute against Brentford F.C.
Mo Salah's return to fitness is critical for Liverpool, leading the Premier League by a razor-thin margin over Man City.
Following his landmark achievement of 200 goals for Liverpool, the Egyptian's return is eagerly anticipated. The Reds are competing for multiple trophies and face The Blues in the Carabao Cup Final on Sunday, February 25.
All Eyes on Mohamed Salah
Based on the Premier League stats centre, Erling Haaland of Manchester City and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool are tied in first place with 14 goals apiece. Close in tow is Dominic Solanke of Bournemouth with 13 goals, followed by Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur with 12.
But Liverpool's problems run deeper than goal-scoring ability alone - Man City have two games in hand, and they are just 5 points shy of Liverpool, while Arsenal is just 2 points away from displacing the Reds from their perch at the top of the Premier League table.
Mohamed Salah's likely replacements next season are in jeopardy after a potential signing of Kylian Mbappe from Paris St Germain went awry.
With Salah likely departing Liverpool at the end of the season – courtesy of Saudi Arabian Al-Ittihad for £215 million – that leaves a big void. Other star players considered include Leao of AC Milan for 2024/2025.
With the January transfer window closed for Liverpool, and little activity from the team, the biggest news is Klopp's resignation at the end of the season.
Of course, the Reds want to finish the season in top form with a Premier League victory to honour Klopp. That seems like a difficult ask under the circumstances.
Talk of Salah replacement is ongoing, with star players like Raphinha of Barcelona coming into contention. Salah's tenure with the Reds expires in 2025.
Barca didn't select Raphinha, putting him front and centre as Salah's replacement. Given the extent of Salah's ligament injury or hamstring tear, pundits are cautious about betting odds for his next appearance.
Why Salah is Invaluable for Liverpool
Besides his larger-than-life presence and ability to weave the ball seamlessly around the pitch, Mo Salah is a Liverpool icon. His speed, skill, and savvy on the field of play are sorely missed. And it shows.
Liverpool's heavy reliance on him makes things difficult for the team, and with Klopp's announcement, there are many crestfallen fellows in the club. It's a pressure-cooker EPL season, with Arsenal and Manchester City snapping at Liverpool's heels.
Come what may, Salah remains indispensable to the club's chances this season. Klopp and his management team have plenty of tactical and strategic decisions to make.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man - perhaps another player is waiting in the wings now that opportunity presents itself?
Few footballers in the history of the game are quite as prolific goal scorers as the legendary Egyptian Mohamed Salah.
As the top goal scorer in the Premier League,"#11 Mo Salah is a Liverpool sensation. As a Forward, he dominates with skill, precision, and dexterity.
He has appeared in 251 Premier League games, scored 153 goals, and assisted 67 times. His stats paint a picture of a serious contender for top goal scorer Premier League, but it’s a competitive season, yet again.
Among his many Honours & Awards, Mo Salah has collected the following silverware:
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2017/2018 – Golden Boot Award
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2018/2009 – Golden Boot Award
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2021/2022 – Golden Boot Award for Top Goal Scorer Premier League
Other notable collections in his trophy cabinet include the following:
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2017/2018 – Player of the Season
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2019/2020 – Premier League Champion
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2021/2022 – Playmaker
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2017 – 2023 – 5X Player of The Month Awards
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2021/2022 – Goal of the Season
Indeed, Mohamed Salah is a masterclass, and his time with Liverpool has been extraordinary. Now 31 years old, Salah is pushing for Premier League glory once again, with Liverpool neck and neck with Manchester City at the top of the table.
Already, he has scored 14 goals from 20 appearances (Friday, January 19 2024), with plenty of games in hand before the season concludes.
If we assume that he can double his goal count from here on in, he should be looking at close to 30 goals – near his best-ever performance in the English Premier League (2017/2018 – 32 goals scored from 36 appearances).
Injury Concerns Weigh Heavily on Mo Salah’s Performance
The AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) standings present yet another arena where Mo Salah's greatness is on display for all the world to see. Egypt is currently in a group comprised of Cape Verde Islands, Mozambique, and Ghana.
Unfortunately, Egypt's 2 draws place them on 2 points, behind Cape Verde Islands on 3 points and ahead of Mozambique and Ghana, both on 1 point, in late January 2024.
To date, the 2023 team leaders for the Egyptian side include Mustapha Mohammed #19 with 2 goals in 2 matches, followed close in tow by Mo Salah #10 with 1 goal in 2 matches, with 1 assist.
Omar Marmoush #22 has scored 1 goal from 2 matches for Egypt. Pundits expect there is tremendous pressure on Salah, as the Premier League top goal scorer 2021/2022.
Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp intimated that Salah’s recent injury however will likely impact his performance for the remainder of the season.
As a strong contender for top goal scorer in the Premier League, Salah now faces a challenging setback with his muscle injury turning out to be more serious than initially anticipated. The auspicious title of Golden Boot recipient in the current Premier League season just got a whole lot more exciting.
Salah, who has consistently demonstrated his prowess as a top goal scorer in the Premier League, now grapples with an injury that could sideline him for up to a month.
This news comes as a major blow to Liverpool, with Salah's agent confirming that the Egyptian forward's recovery timeline extends far beyond the initially expected two-game absence.
His participation in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hangs in the balance, with Salah's return to the pitch now hinging on intensive rehabilitation back in the UK.
Salah, who emerged as the Premier League top goal scorer in the 2021/22 season, has been instrumental in Liverpool's campaign this year.
However, his injury, which he suffered during an AFCON match against Ghana, has necessitated a return to Liverpool for a rigorous treatment program.
The club has echoed the importance of this rehab, aiming to expedite Salah's recovery for both club and country.
Despite being a crucial figure in Egypt's qualification for the knockout stages of AFCON, Salah's immediate focus will shift to recovery at Liverpool's AXA Training Centre in hopes of a swift return to maintain his status as a Premier League top goal scorer this season.
It's worth pointing out the number of goals scored by Mohamed Salah in the Premier League from 2017/18 to 2023/24 by season. These findings presented by Statista paint an interesting picture:
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2017/2018 – 32 goals scored
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2018/2019 – 22 goals scored
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2019/2020 – 19 goals scored
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2020/2021 – 22 goals scored
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2021/2022 – 23 goals scored
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2022/2023 – 19 goals scored
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2023/2024 – 14 goals scored with half the season to play
The trajectory, barring injury concerns, paints a positive picture for Mohammed Saleh as the Golden Boot recipient for the English Premier League for 2023/2024.
So, who is the top goal scorer in the Premier League?
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Erling Haaland of Manchester City – tied on 14 goals with Mohamed Salah
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Dominic Solanke of AFC Bournemouth – 12 goals scored
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Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur – 12 goal scored
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Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United – 11 goals scored
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Hwang Hee-Chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers – 10 goals scored
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Alexander Isak of Newcastle United – 10 goals scored
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Cole Palmer of Chelsea – 9 goals scored
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Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa – 9 goals scored
Pundits routinely wait for the most reliable Premier League top goal scorer odds, but with Salah in good form, it’s less of a guess.
Bettors are carefully eyeing the performance of players, remaining games, and the intensity of the action to determine who has the Golden Boot for the 2023/2024 football betting season.
For Salah to be the Premier League top goal scorer this season, he must recover fast and score goals in double-quick time.
It's neck and neck with Haaland and Salah, but there are plenty of games to play, and injury concerns for any of the top contenders can easily shift expectations.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*