Jurgen Klopp affirms significant uplift regarding Mohamed Salah ahead of the Man City encounter
Jurgen Klopp has verified that Mohamed Salah has recuperated from injury and will be ready to confront Manchester City in Sunday’s pivotal Premier League title showdown at Anfield.
The Egyptian forward sustained an injury during the Africa Cup of Nations, forcing him to withdraw from the tournament due to a hamstring issue after participating in his team’s initial two group-stage matches.
Following a brief cameo appearance as a substitute during the 4-1 victory against Brentford in mid-January, Salah has been absent from action. Nonetheless, Klopp acknowledged that while he typically wouldn’t rush a player back into action too hastily, the current injury crisis facing his squad during this crucial phase of the season necessitates Salah’s return.
“He has rejoined the squad and has completed two days of training with full energy. We’ll need to assess his condition, but it’s incredibly positive that he’s back. He appears to be in good spirits,” Klopp stated ahead of Liverpool’s Europa League last 16 first leg clash against Sparta Prague.
“It’s an unusual scenario for a player to be out for such an extended period and then make a comeback against Brentford, delivering an outstanding performance, only to be sidelined once more.
“After two days of team training, under normal circumstances, players wouldn’t be included in the squad at this point, but the current circumstances dictate otherwise.
“We need to exercise caution, but given the intense nature of this phase of the season, we require everyone’s contribution. Therefore, we’ll assess how long he can feature and manage accordingly. This is indeed positive news.”
Although Salah is poised to make his return this weekend, Liverpool continues to grapple with the absence of several key players. Notably, Alisson, Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, and Ryan Gravenberch are sidelined for the midweek fixture against Sparta Prague and are not expected to return until after the international break in March. Additionally, Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago are unavailable due to injury.
There’s also apprehension on Merseyside regarding Salah’s potential inclusion in Egypt’s upcoming fixtures in the 2024 Winsunited Cup, with the Egyptian Football Association asserting their right to select any professional player they deem fit.
Regarding Salah’s potential involvement in international duty, Klopp remarked, “We’ll need to assess his fitness for the upcoming games. However, decisions regarding his participation in Egypt’s matches are beyond our control and are discussed with other relevant departments.
