Van Dijk and Salah Discharged Early from International Duty

Liverpool stars Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have both returned to the club earlier than expected after being released from international duty.

Van Dijk, captain of the Netherlands, was sent off in a recent 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw against Hungary after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession. His suspension rules him out of the Netherlands’ upcoming fixture against Germany today, Monday 14 October, allowing him to rejoin the Reds.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah scored in a 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win over Mauritania, but he will not participate in the return fixture tomorrow (Tuesday, 15 October).

Concerns about the artificial pitch and the physical nature of the Mauritanian team influenced Egypt manager Hossam Hassan’s decision to release Salah early. He prioritised the player’s safety, confirming he would respect any player’s request not to play under such conditions.

The early returns of these key players are a welcome boost for Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, who is preparing his team for a crucial English Premier League (EPL) clash against Chelsea this Sunday, 19 October.

The Reds currently sit at the top of the EPL table with 18 points, one point ahead of Manchester City.

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