Jurgen Klopp has defended Mohamed Salah’s return to Liverpool from the Africa Cup of Nations, hitting back at critics questioning the forward’s loyalty to Egypt.Salah returned to Liverpool on Wednesday to begin an “intensive rehabilitation programme” after picking up a muscle injury in Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana last Thursday.Some pundits and former players criticised his departure from Egypt’s camp.Salah blasted for leaving his teammates, Klopp’s assistant defends himHowever, speaking after the Reds’ League Cup semi-final success against Fulham, Klopp clarified that the star forward will feature for Egypt in the latter stages of the tournament if fit.”I cannot be part of that discussion,” Klopp said to beIN SPORTS when asked about Salah potentially putting his club first. “Egypt and Liverpool both have the same interest; we want Mo Salah to fit as soon as possible.”If he stays in Africa and they can’t do the proper treatment, it will just delay everything, especially for Egypt if they go through the tournament.”We bring him here not because we want to take him away from Egypt but just to offer the best medical treatment. That is all we want.Salah Cup of Nighmares – Liverpool star faces a month out”It’s all agreed. If Salah is fit and Egypt go to the final, it was always clear, he goes back, 100 per cent. Mo wants that, we want that. We don’t plan with Mo and think we can do a little bit here or there.”If somebody questions the loyalty of Mo Salah, they should ask themselves if their loyalty is right, because Mo Salah is definitely the most loyal Egyptian I’ve met in my life,” concluded he.AFCON 2023- GROUP STAGERound 3Monday Ivory Coast – Equatorial Guinea 0-4 (0-1)/Nsue 45, 57, Ganet 73, Buyla 88/Nigeria – Guinea Bissau 1-0 (1-0)/Sangante 36/Cape Verde – Egypt 2-2 (1-0)/Benchimol 45+1, Texeira 90+9 – Trezeguet 50, Mohamed 90+3/Mozambique – Ghana 2-2 (0-1)/Catamo 90+1 pen, Mandava 90+4 – J Ayew 15 pen, 67 pen/TuesdayGuinea – Senegal 0-2 (0-0) /Seck 61, Ndiaye 90/Gambia – Cameroon 2-3 (0-0) /Jallow 72, E. Colley 85 – Toko Ekambi 56, Gomez 87-og, Wooh 90+1/Mauritania – Algeria 1-0 (1-0)/Yali 37/Angola – Burkina Faso 1-0 (1-0)/Mabululu 36/WednesdayMali – Namibia 0-0Tunisia – South Africa 0-0Zambia – Morocco 0-1 (0-1)/Ziyech 37/Tanzania – DR Congo 0-0Saturday20.00: (2.10) Angola (3.20) Namibia (3.80)23.00: (2.10) Nigeria (3.20) Cameroon (3.80)***odds are subject to change
