Liverpool exploit loophole in Premier League coronavirus rules to allow Mohamed Salah to return

Liverpool are benefiting from the Premier League‘s muddled coronavirus rules to rush Mohamed Salah back into action – after he resumed training just five days after testing positive.

Salah, 28, returned to training on Monday and is set to play tonight as Liverpool host Atalanta in the Champions League having been forced to miss the weekend victory over Leicester after he tested positive on international duty with Egypt.

That comes despite Premier League rules stating players must not train or play for 10 days after recording a positive test.

The Sun report that PL chiefs have ‘blurred the lines’ of those rules – saying the period without playing or training is actually from an initial positive test – rather than the most recent one.

That crucial difference means Salah is available to train despite testing positive last Wednesday, his second positive test while away with Egypt.

He returned to training at Liverpool’s new AXA centre on Monday, despite Premier League rules stating that players cannot train or play for 10 days after a positive test.

Mohamed Salah was all smiles as he trained with his Liverpool team-mates on Tuesday

Salah tested positive for coronavirus just days after attending the wedding of his brother

UK law states: ‘If you have symptoms, the 10 days starts from when they started. If you have not had symptoms, the 10 days starts from when you had the test.’ 

Salah had two positive tests, the first coming on November 13 and the second on Wed­nesday last week, after going away with Egypt during the international break.

His return to training on Monday was exactly 10 days since that first positive test, and the Premier League gave their blessing with UEFA rules allowing a player to play after a week’s quarantine period.

The Premier League’s rules state: ‘Each Club must ensure that: (i) all PDP Persons comply with Government guidance regarding management of COVID-19 symptoms experienced by them or any member of their household, including any ‘test and trace’ guidance or policy implemented by Government.

‘(ii) in the event that a PDP Person develops symptoms of COVID-19 at any point: a. they self-isolate for ten days or until symptoms resolve (whichever is the later); and b. members of the PDP Person’s household self-isolate for 14 days.’

On November 14, Egypt’s team doctor said Salah was experiencing ‘mild’ coronavirus symptoms. Jurgen Klopp, however, said he didn’t have any symptoms.

The Premier League were happy for Salah to return after providing a negative sample and Liverpool have not broken any rules.

Liverpool have exploited a loophole in Premier League’s coronavirus rules to get Salah back

Jurgen Klopp refused to criticise Salah for attending his brother’s wedding in Egypt

Salah flew back to the UK from Egypt with compatriot Mohamed Elneny, who had also tested positive, last Friday, having been given permission by his national FA.

His positive test came off the back of being seen partying at his brother’s wedding in Egypt in the run up to meeting up with the international team. 

Images emerged of Salah in which guests were not social distancing and masks were not being worn. 

Jurgen Klopp refused to criticise Salah for attending the ceremony, saying ‘If we knew or not (that he was going to the wedding), it is private.

Salah has been in fine scoring form with 10 goals in 13 appearances so far this season

‘Honestly, we cannot start giving little pieces of it. I did not go to my best friend’s birthday party in the summer. Fifty people attended and I decided at the last minute not to go — that was only a birthday party.

‘Maybe I don’t have that many birthdays any more with my best friends, so it was really hard for me to decide.’

Salah was on target in Liverpool’s 5-0 victory over Atalanta earlier this month and has been in fine form in front of goal all season, scoring 10 times in 13 games so far.