Liverpool could be without Mo Salah at the beginning of next season, if the forward decides to go to the Olympics, after Egypt qualified on Tuesday.
Everything is going swimmingly for the Reds this season and, despite it being early in the season, they look a very good bet to end their near 30 years without a league title.
Should they win the title they'll have a tough time defending it, especially if Salah is out for the start of next season. Earlier in the week Egypt under 23s beat South Africa u23s to earn a place in the African Cup of Nations final.
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The final takes place on Friday but win or lose the country have already qualified for the Olympics in Tokyo next summer, which will take place from July 22 to August 8.
Those dates would see Salah miss the first week of the Premier League season and the entirety of the Reds' pre-season preparation, whilst it's also likely he'd need a week or two rest after the tournament.
Olympic football is played by under 23 teams but nations can pick three players over the age, as Brazil did to great effect when Neymar played for them in Rio just over three years ago.
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There's no guarantee that Salah would be picked. Speaking after his 3-0 win over South Africa, Egypt u23 coach Shawky Gharib said, "As an Egyptian, I'm so proud of what he [Salah] is doing with Liverpool, he is an amazing player and makes the whole nation proud.
"But it is too early to talking about whether I will pick him to be with us in Tokyo 2020. I will think about the players that my team will need and then I will announce."
Salah could also reject any call up for the tournament and his relationship with the national team isn't all that great.
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The former Roma winger has clashed with his country's FA in the past about how they have treated him and he was also disappointed during the FIFA The Best awards after their vote for him didn't count because of an administrative error.
The 27-year-old removed all mentions of Egypt from his social media profiles but the lure of winning an Olympic medal could see him accept any call up.
Liverpool will be gutted but the blow will be softened if they start the season as champions.
Will Salah go to the Olympics?
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