In the post-match interview after Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Mohamed Salah is in contention to return against Napoli in midweek when he had said (via goal.com), “Mo is all good.
“He couldn’t train for nine days; he was with the Egyptian national team, went home and trained kind of 60 or 70 per cent the day before yesterday [Thursday].
“Yesterday was the first time 100 per cent, so we had then to make the decision of whether we started him or not.
“We didn’t start him, we wanted to bring him on as you probably saw but then we scored. So, we could rest him, that’s really good and Wednesday he will be back.”
Salah’s Injury Absence Has Weakened Liverpool
The latest update will come as a welcome bit of news for anyone associated with the Merseyside club. It was evident from Liverpool’s performance versus the Eagles this weekend that they missed Salah’s electric presence up top. The Reds are not the same threat with Sadio Mane as their only mobile option on the counter.
Now that the Egyptian speedster is set to make a come back from his ankle problem, the European champions should have enough firepower to brush Napoli aside in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.
Salah has not been at his sparkling best during this campaign so far, but he has still managed to be productive for his side across all competitions. The Egypt international has scored nine goals and grabbed five assists in 17 appearances for the Reds this term on all fronts. He is averaging 3.7 shots, 1.5 key passes and 2.0 dribbles per game under Klopp’s tutelage this season (stats via whoscored).
What Are The Egyptian Attacker’s Best Attributes?
Salah is one of the quickest players in European football and can be a lethal weapon for Liverpool in the final third. He excels at running with the ball when left alone in a 1v1 footrace with his marker. The 28-year-old has the pace and skillset to trouble any defender as long as he is playing with a clean bill of health.
The 67-time Egypt international has been carrying an ankle injury that he sustained against Leicester City back in October. However, the medical team at Liverpool have decided that he doesn’t require surgery, which has eased fears across Merseyside.
Salah Set To Return Vs Napoli: Big Boost For Liverpool?
The news of Salah’s availability versus Napoli will be a massive boost for Klopp and his side’s chances of ensuring maximum points at Anfield. The Reds can secure qualification into the knockout stages of the Champions League with a win over their Italian opponents in midweek. Furthermore, having Salah back will help Klopp cope with the fixture cogestion in the coming weeks.
