LIVERPOOL HAVE SEEN their Premier League title bid handed a timely boost, with Egypt revealing that they will not call upon Mohamed Salah for their March internationals.
The 26-year-old forward is a talismanic presence for his country, with his efforts having helped to fire them to the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.
He has a key role to play for the Pharaohs in the future, but is set to be awarded a much-needed break.
That news will be welcomed at Anfield, with Liverpool desperate to keep key men fresh as they endeavour to secure a first top-flight crown in 29 years.
They had been expecting to see Salah head away next month for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with Niger and a friendly clash with Nigeria. Instead, he will now be allowed to remain in England and rest.
Vice-president of the Egyptian Football Association, Ahmed Shobier, told KingFut: “Mohamed Salah will not play the Niger game in the AFCON qualifiers or the Nigeria friendly. Ahmed Hegazi will probably also be left out of the squad.”
Hegazi is currently on the books at West Brom, so they will also be delighted to discover that no international risks will be taken over the coming weeks.
The Baggies are pushing for promotion out of the Championship, with Darren Moore hoping to deliver a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
With Javier Aguirre set to overlook Hegazi, he will be given the chance to ready himself for the domestic challenges to come. The same will be true for Salah.
Liverpool have seen a man who netted 44 goals across all competitions last season record another 19 in the current campaign.
Keeping him fit and firing is crucial to any hopes Jurgen Klopp’s side have of prevailing in a tussle with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur for title glory.
They are due to face Spurs as part of their March schedule, along with Premier League fixtures against Burnley, Everton and Fulham.
The Reds will also take in the second leg of a heavyweight Champions League last-16 encounter with Bayern Munich.
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LeBron is definitely the best player in the NBA this year. Harden puts up great highlights and is unbelievably skillful but not a better player this year.
@kevcrowley: is that why Curry wipes the floor with him in the finals… you know, the part of the season that matters?
@Jonathan Nolan: curry wasn’t even Finals mvp , and in the finals the last two years it’s been pretty much 4 v 1 with a bit of Kevin Love and Kyrie last year
@Jonathan Nolan: curry can blow hot and cold beteeen quarters and have Kevin Durant or Klay Thompson take over scoring. James played every minute nearly and has huge defensive responsibility on top. No comparison with Curry
@kevcrowley: every minute??!! Is that why he was on the bench or sitting at the side of the clock for 20 minutes per game 2 & 3?
@Aidan Holden: is that Curry’s daily for having a team around him?
@kevcrowley: bottom line is LeBum James only has as many rings as Larry Bird, yet he’s been in almost twice as many finals. The guy has skills, but he’s a chump. At the end of a career it’s rings that are the legacy, and LeBum will be hard pressed getting another one
@Jonathan Nolan: do you think calling him LeBum makes you sound smart and reasonable?
@Jonathan Nolan: well in that case a ‘chump’ is the 2nd greatest player of all time
@Jonathan Nolan: your opinion on basketball is complete rubbish I’ve seen all the top players in the league play live and LeBron is superior than every single one of them
Instead of calling people bums take the time to actually watch them play basketball in the flesh before you talk
Your opinion is complete rubbish
@Aidan Holden: after Larry Bird and Magic Johnson? Aren’t you forgetting about Jordan?
@Barry McCarthy: No, would be the answer to that one Barry. It’s just my opinion. He’s the most over hyped player in NBA history. You are entitled to your own opinion. Fair enough
@Jonathan Nolan: MJ number 1 LBJ number 2
Should’ve won it in 2011 but This year Harden was a fair choice
@Ruairi Doyle: in 2011 he wasn’t starting and averaged about 10 ppg what?
4-0 says it all. And LeBum was the one with 4 x L’s against his name at seasons end
@Jonathan Nolan: weird
@Jonathan Nolan: 4-0 says absolutely nothing since its REGULAR SEASON MVP.