Liverpool star Mo Salah tests positive for Covid-19 on international duty

Liverpool winger Mo Salah has tested positive for coronavirus while on international duty.

The Egyptian Football Association confirmed on Friday afternoon that, while showing no symptoms, the forward has returned a positive test.

A statement from the Egyptian FA on Twitter read: "The medical swab conducted... showed that our international player, Mohamed Salah, the star of Liverpool, was infected with the coronavirus, after his test came positive . Although he does not suffer from any symptoms. While the other members of the team were negative."

The news will be another blow to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who lost Sadio Mane and summer signing Thagio to positive tests earlier this season, after defender Joe Gomez was ruled out potentially for the season having picked up an injury while on international duty with England.

Last month the Liverpool manager expressed concerns over exposing players to infection while on international duty.

"I don't want to sound disrespectful about how other countries are doing it but this is the place that we know and we know how we are dealing with it," said Klopp.

"So I am slightly concerned because it is difficult to be in contact with all FAs (football associations) all over the world.

"I understand it, I really understand how difficult the situation is but it's not exactly perfect, the information we get from certain FAs.

"As a football club you are pretty alone in these moments, we send the players away and then we have another challenge because we have to play a Premier League game on a Saturday after they have travelled from, maybe Peru, on the Thursday or Friday.

"You have to make sure you bring the players home in the quickest and safest way and then we have to see how they are before we try to get a result on the Saturday."