Egypt's Mohamed Salah looks downcast at training ahead of Saudi game - in pictures

Liverpool frontman does not seem like a happy man, understandably due to his team's World Cup exit, but is there anything else cooking?

Egypt's Mohamed Salah trains with his team at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd on June 24, on the eve of their World Cup Group A match against Saudi Arabia. AFP

Mohamed Salah, left, talks with Egypt's goalkeeper Essam El Hadary during training at the Volgograd Arena. AFP

Egypt's Mohamed Salah trains with his team at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd on June 24, on the eve of their World Cup Group A match against Saudi Arabia. AFP

Egypt's Mohamed Salah trains with his team at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd on June 24, on the eve of their World Cup Group A match against Saudi Arabia. AFP

Egypt's Mohamed Salah trains with his team at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd on June 24, on the eve of their World Cup Group A match against Saudi Arabia. AFP

Egypt's Mohamed Salah trains with his team at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd on June 24, on the eve of their World Cup Group A match against Saudi Arabia. AFP

Egypt's Mohamed Salah trains with his team at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd on June 24, on the eve of their World Cup Group A match against Saudi Arabia. AFP

Egypt players Ramadan Sobhi, left, Shikabala, second left, Mohamed Salah, second right, and Ahmed Elmohamady, right, train at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd on June 24, on the eve of their World Cup Group A match against Saudi Arabia.. EPA

Egypt's Mohamed Salah trains with his team at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd on June 24, on the eve of their World Cup Group A match against Saudi Arabia. AFP

Egypt's Mohamed Salah trains with his team at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd on June 24, on the eve of their World Cup Group A match against Saudi Arabia. AFP

Egypt's Mohamed Salah, left, talks with goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, centre, and other teammates during training at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd on June 24, on the eve of their World Cup Group A match against Saudi Arabia. AFP

Egypt's Mohamed Salah trains with his team at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd on June 24, on the eve of their World Cup Group A match against Saudi Arabia. AFP

Egypt's Mohamed Salah trains with his team at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd on June 24, on the eve of their World Cup Group A match against Saudi Arabia. AFP

Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah has not looked a happy man ever since his team got knocked out of the 2018 World Cup following their unexpected defeat to Russia last week.

But the Liverpool forward, who has enjoyed a brilliant 2017/18 season in club football, had a far-from-ideal preparation for the World Cup after being injured in the Uefa Champions League final, in which his Premier League side lost to Real Madrid. Salah injured his shoulder and missed Egypt's opening game against Uruguay, which also ended in defeat.

But there were murmurs this week about his supposed unhappiness with the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), allegedly because he was photographed with Ramzan Kadyrov, head of the Chechen Republic. Kadyrov has come under criticism for human rights problems while presiding over the Russian province.

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Read more:

World Cup 2018: Day 12 live updates - Egypt face Saudi Arabia

Cuper: Egypt determined to 'bow out of the World Cup in style'

Pizzi vows players 'will make Saudi Arabia proud' against Egypt

In pictures: Salah's pain and brief joy as Egypt beaten by Russia

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There is also talk Salah is unhappy with the EFA over his image rights. The BBC reported he was "upset his image had been used in a promotion for official sponsor WE when he had a sponsorship deal with rival telecommunications firm Vodafone".

The EFA has denied any disagreement between the board and the player. It also rubbished talk of a rift in the camp, according to media reports. Whether that be true or not, the pictures of Salah suggest the 26-year-old player is not exactly joyous at the moment.