Liverpool have been dealt a potential blow after Mohamed Salah limped off in Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations draw against Ghana with an apparent hamstring injury.
Both the Reds and Egypt face an anxious wait after the influential forward went down off the ball and received treatment before being replaced at the end of the first-half.
Salah, 31, who is key to the Pharaohs’ hopes of a first AFCON title since 2010, was seen holding the back of his left thigh but walked off the pitch without any assistance.
But manager Rui Vitoria was quick to alley fears about their talisman after the game.
He said: “I hope it’s not a big problem but it was a problem in the first-half. It was difficult timing for us because in the second half, we could only make two substitutions.
“But now, I don’t know. It’s early to see something, I think it’s not dangerous but let’s see if Salah recovers.”
It went from bad to worse for Egypt as they conceded within a minute of him leaving the pitch after a stunner from Mohammed Kudus.
Omar Marmoush levelled the game but the West Ham star bagged his brace with another quick response.
However, Egypt battled on without their main man as Mostafa Mohamed’s strike saw it end 2-2.
Both nations required a win after failing to win their opening games in Group B so the draw does little for either side’s knockout stage hopes.
Salah scored a dramatic late penalty equaliser to rescue a point for Egypt in their opening group match against Mozambique.
He has been at his usual best this season for the Reds, scoring 18 goals in 27 matches in all competitions.
Liverpool are currently two points clear of Manchester City at the top so any game in which Salah misses could be pivotal.
Jurgen Klopp’s men face Bournemouth next in the league, followed by a Carabao Cup semi-final second leg versus Fulham before clashes with Chelsea and Arsenal.