Jurgen Klopp is not yet sure about the extent of Mohamed Salah’s hamstring injury, with the Egypt captain undergoing further assessment after being substituted at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah was withdrawn in first-half stoppage time during Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana on Thursday, clutching his left thigh as he was replaced by Mostafa Fathi.
He is now considered a major doubt for Egypt’s final Group B game against Cape Verde on Monday, with the Pharaohs requiring a result in that match after drawing their first two games at the tournament.
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Any major fitness setback for Salah – who has 27 goal involvements (18 goals, nine assists) for Liverpool in all competitions this season – would come as a huge blow to the Reds’ hopes of maintaining their push for four trophies.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to Bournemouth, Klopp said the club must wait for Egypt to assess Salah, while admitting the sight of his winger in discomfort was a concerning one.
“We don’t know anything,” Klopp said. “I spoke last night with him about his injury. He needs to have further assessment, so that’s what they’re doing now and then we will know more.
“At that moment it was a shock, it was high intensity and going down, you can have these kinds of hamstring injuries.
“We all know how rarely Mo needs to go off. So there’s something, but we will see. I have no more information now.”
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4 goals divided equally as Egypt and Ghana share the points in an intense contest. ????????#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | #EGYGHA pic.twitter.com/eHLPaXbMBQ
— Total Energies AFCON (@TotalAFCON2023) January 18, 2024
Asked whether Liverpool would send medical staff to Ivory Coast to aid Salah’s recovery, Klopp said: “It depends on the diagnosis.
“They have to do an ultrasound and an MRI to know what it is. Then we will see what Egypt’s plans are.”
Salah has only missed 10 Premier League games across six and a half seasons at Anfield, while he is the only Liverpool player to play more than 2,000 minutes across all competitions this campaign (2,043).
Klopp provided a more positive update on Liverpool’s other injured players, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai all closing in on a return to action.
While none of those players will be available at the Vitality Stadium, Klopp hopes they may be involved when the Reds go to Fulham for the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final tie on Wednesday.
“They’re all positive but they’re not ready,” Klopp said. “They’re all going in the right direction, getting closer and closer, and some of them might be part of team training next week.
“For the Bournemouth game, I don’t expect anyone back. After Bournemouth, maybe for Fulham, we will see, but they are all close. Trent is close, Dom is close, Robbo is close.”
“There’s no way!” ???? pic.twitter.com/0sqtBjvjqg
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 18, 2024