Egypt teammates rally behind unsettled Salah before AFCON

Key Highlights

• Goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhy called Salah "always the best". Liverpool have struggled in their title defence this season and lie 10th after 15 rounds, 10 points behind leaders Arsenal.
• Salah has also battled with just four goals in 13 top-flight appearances. After twice surrendering the lead in a 3-3 draw at Leeds United last Saturday, Salah told reporters "it seems like the club has thrown me under the bus"."I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame (for the slump)...
• someone does not want me in the club."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSalah was omitted from the squad that travelled to Milan for a Champions League clash with Inter on Tuesday and has hinted that he may not play for Liverpool again.- 'Great feeling' -Saudi Arabia says it will do "whatever it can" to recruit Salah during the mid-season transfer window, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) source in the kingdom told AFP. Although Egypt last won the AFCON 15 years ago in Luanda, Salah, 33, believes they will lift the trophy again before he retires."It will happen -- that is what I believe.
• It is a great feeling every time you step on the field wearing the Egyptian colours."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSalah has suffered much heartbreak in four AFCON tournaments as Egypt twice finished runners-up and twice exited in the round of 16. He created the goal that put the Pharaohs ahead in the 2017 final, but Cameroon clawed back to win 2-1 in Libreville. Hosts and title favourites Egypt were stunned by South Africa in the first knockout round two years later, conceding a late goal to lose 1-0. Egypt reached the final again in 2022 only to lose on penalties to Senegal after 120 goalless minutes in Yaounde. In Ivory Coast last year, Salah suffered a hamstring injury against Ghana and took no further part in the tournament.
• Egypt lost on penalties to the Democratic Republic of Congo in a last-16 clash.