Liverpool took Mohamed Salah matters into its own hands with stern Egypt message

Liverpool directly , leading to the early return of

over Mauritania on Tuesday at Stade Cheikha Ould Boidiya, in which it secured its spot in the next AFCON on Tuesday night. And it was a risk worth taking with Egyptian media referring to , even after Ibrahim Adel's late winner tipped the scales for the visitors.

Egypt manager Hossam Hassan has expressed his understanding of Salah's decision to skip the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier and cited Liverpool directly expressing its concerns over the risk of injury on the artificial pitch. The Pharaohs' boss disclosed that after discussions with Salah, it was agreed he would not feature in the match at Nouakchott due to worries about the turf's condition and the expected aggressive defending from the hosts, which he termed as "violent".

It seems Anfield officials were particularly anxious about their leading scorer participating on a potentially hazardous surface with a packed schedule of crucial games ahead. "I respected Salah's wish because the medical staff at Liverpool were concerned about the possibility of his back and knee injuries recurring due to the artificial turf on the pitch," Hassan remarked following the triumph.

"I prioritized Salah's health and didn't want to risk him, especially in these key qualifiers. I must support players and collaborate with their clubs to ensure their long-term fitness. Whether we win or lose, criticism comes. However, I respect constructive feedback from the media."

"I thank the Mauritanian fans for their presence and all my players for their efforts despite challenging weather and playing on artificial turf. It was not easy for us as some players never played on such turf but we will improve in terms of performance and results in the future."

Salah is set to return to Liverpool training this week as they gear up for Chelsea's visit on Sunday afternoon. Following that, the Reds are off to RB Leipzig for a Champions League clash on Wednesday week before a crucial top-of-the-table Premier League showdown at Arsenal on Sunday, October 27.