Rovers skipper steadying himself for Salah battle
Pico Lopes recently found himself in the unusual position of shouting at his television screen when his potential upcoming opponent Mo Salah appeared.
The Shamrock Rovers defender is heading for the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast next month when his Cape Verde side meet Ghana, Mozambique and Egypt.
He was in the side knocked out of the last delayed tournament two years ago by Senegal, when Sadio Mané scored in the 2-0 win, but his former Liverpool teammate is now consuming the thoughts of Lopes.
The centre-back was born in Dublin but declared for the birthplace of his father Carlos and is line to feature at his second showpiece, this one at least not overshadowed by Covid.
Chris Hughton’s Ghana are first up on January 14, followed by Mozambique five days later and the group concluder against the Egyptians on January 22.
“I was screaming at the TV – saying ‘why are you showing him his left side?,” confesses the 31-year-old about the painful research of surveying Liverpool’s matches.
“Just keep him on his right foot’ - but that’s easier said than done.
“I’ve probably watched him through closed hands at the moment, because he’s in frightening form at Liverpool.” Lopes has been a game battler when faced with such daunting tasks, Zlatan Ibrahimovic among the stars he’s marshalled, and he’s confident of keeping the Reds ace quiet in what could be a game to decide their knockout phase destiny.
“He’s a strong man and for a player small in stature his hold-up play is so good,” he said about preparing for the duel.
“He’s got incredible upper body strength so with his back to goal there’s a chance of him rolling me and I mightn’t be able to shake him off. Then, if he’s running at you, it’s about showing him the line but if
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