Liverpool striker Mo Sala has tested positive for COVID-19 during his time with the Egyptian national team. Photo by PA Images/Sipa USA

Liverpool's Mo Salah tests positive for COVID-19 while on international duty

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 11/13/20

Liverpool striker Mo Salah won't be competing in any matches anytime soon.

The Egyptian Football Association confirmed Friday that Salah has tested positive for the coronavirus while on international duty, preparing to face Togo in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers on Saturday.

They have since deleted the tweet, posting a new one saying: "The laboratories of the Ministry of Health have indicated that three players from the Egyptian and Togo teams have tested positive before the match between the two teams tomorrow."

Egypt's football association says Liverpool forward Mo Salah has tested positive for coronavirus ahead of Egypt facing Togo in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers

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— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) November 13, 2020

اعادة اختبار كورونا لثلاثة لاعبين من مصر وتوجو ..... ⬇️⬇️

اشارت معامل وزارة الصحة إلى ايجابية اختبار ثلاثة لاعبين من منتخبي مصر وتوجو التي اجريت لهما قبل مباراة الفريقين غدا .. ومن المقرر أن تجرى اختبارات أخرى للاعبين المذكورين لتحديد موقفهم من المشاركة#EFA pic.twitter.com/FIcB8QTxbp
— EFA.eg (@EFA) November 13, 2020

Salah becomes the latest big-name footballer to test positive for COVID-19. Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba and Neymar all tested positive in previous months.

While this is a huge loss for the Egyptian national team, it's arguably an even bigger loss for Liverpool, who currently are third in the Premier League standings behind Leicester City and Tottenham. Salah could be out for the team's Nov. 21 league match against Leicester at Anfield and their following Champions League game against Italian side Atalanta on Nov. 25.

If the 28-year-old doesn't return to the pitch, Liverpool will have a difficult time with Leicester, especially considering they're without Joe Gomez and Virgil Van Dijk for the rest of the campaign due to injury.

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