Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expressed caution regarding Mohamed Salah’s potential return to action against Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday. The star striker, who recently recovered from injury, prompts Klopp to tread carefully.
Salah, the Egyptian international, accompanied his Liverpool teammates on Wednesday’s flight to Prague after being sidelined for the previous four matches due to muscle fatigue.
Having played only 46 minutes for Liverpool since his early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations due to a hamstring injury sustained in a group-stage match against Ghana in January, Salah’s fitness remains a focal point of concern for Klopp and the team.
Salah made a substitute appearance against Brentford on February 17, scoring at the Gtech Community Stadium before facing a setback with the muscle issue that sidelined him.
Having trained with the rest of the Liverpool squad on Wednesday, Salah is a potential inclusion for the last 16 first-leg clash against Sparta.
His availability holds particular importance for Klopp as Liverpool prepares for a crucial Premier League encounter against Manchester City on Sunday.
In the heated race for the title, with Liverpool leading by a mere point ahead of second-placed City, Klopp expressed his satisfaction with Salah’s return during a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
“It’s great to have him back,” Klopp remarked. “After two days of team training, normally players in his situation wouldn’t be included in the squad, but the circumstances now justify it.”
Emphasizing caution, Klopp added, “We need to be mindful, but given the intense phase of the season we’re in, we require everyone.”
Klopp maintained a cautious stance, stating, “Let’s see how long we can utilize him and manage his minutes.”
Liverpool, eyeing a historic quadruple, secured the League Cup final victory against Chelsea and triumphed over Luton, Southampton, and Nottingham Forest during Salah’s absence.
Nevertheless, Salah’s return provides a significant boost for Liverpool as they approach the critical final weeks of Klopp’s tenure.
With 19 goals across all competitions this season, including 15 in 21 league appearances, Salah’s impact is undeniable.
Klopp has brought his strongest squad to Prague, with Darwin Nunez and Wataru Endo in contention for starting roles after their appearances as substitutes in the recent win against Forest.
