Salah, Mane Returns to Liverpool 24 Hours After Afcon Finals

Mohamed Salah Saidio Mane left Cameroon for Liverpool for the Premier league action 24 hours after the finals of the just concluded African Cup Nation

The Egypt international arrived back in England on Monday, heading straight home after his country were beaten on penalties in the final by Senegal; a number of early misses in the shootout meant Salah was unable to take a spot-kick.

Jurgen Klopp was expecting Salah to return to Liverpool swiftly but the speed with which he got back from Cameroon has illustrated his determination to be involved in Thursday’s critical Anfield fixture against Leicester.

The 29-year-old will undergo some light training at Liverpool’s base in Kirkby on Tuesday afternoon and have some routine tests but providing no issues come to light, Salah will want to be included in the starting line-up for the game against Brendan Rodgers’ side.

It remains to be seen whether Sadio Mane will be available for the fixture, as he was back in Dakar last night with Senegal’s victorious squad. Klopp said last week that he anticipated whichever of his players won would be back possibly 24 hours later.

Harvey Elliott, meanwhile, has admitted his own Anfield return reduced him to tears after he came on against Cardiff on Sunday and marked his first appearance since breaking his ankle in September with a goal.

‘Stepping out onto the pitch, when I ran out, did bring a little tear to my eye,’ said the 18-year-old.

‘It was a moment I’ll remember and a moment that I can learn from in the future and look back on it and think: ‘If I can go through it at such a young age, I can go through anything.’

‘I’m just happy to be back now, the injury is in the past and [I’m] moving on to the next game.’