Mohamed Salah scored within a minute of coming on against Manchester City on Thursday in Liverpool’s International Champions Cup win and Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has insisted that the Egyptian has no issues with his shoulder anymore.
“I said before the game, it’s not that he has problems – he has no problems. He only needs to get used to all the different things,” Klopp responded at his post-match presser when asked if he had any doubts over Salah’s injury.
Salah, Liverpool’s top scorer in the 2017/18 season, was last seen in a Liverpool jersey in a distressed state as he was forced to come off in the 2018 UEFA Champions League final after a tangle with Real Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos had severely injured his shoulder.
Initial fears abounded that he would miss the 2018 FIFA World Cup and perhaps, a major chunk of Liverpool’s pre-season especially if surgery was on the cards.
And while he did have a sub-par display in Russia, the 26-year-old proved he’s fit as a fiddle with a impactful 30-min cameo against the reigning Premier League champions.
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“We do a lot with the shoulder to strengthen the muscles and all that stuff. Usually you don’t do anything with the shoulder but in rehab you feel this and feel that, and you need to learn that’s normal.”
Salah and fellow Afircan winger Sadio Mane came on in the second-half and almost tore Pep Guardiola’s men to shreds with their pace and incisive passing. They combined to devastating effect and on another day, would have had a brace each.
“He is in that moment but he has absolutely no issues, I was not concerned about it otherwise he wouldn’t have played. He came in and scored after pretty much 35 seconds. He had a big impact together with Sadio and Dom, and the midfield with Marko, Pedro and Ben played fantastic,” the German tactician added.
Liverpool next take on arch-rivals Manchester United in two days time and it’s likely Salah will play one entire half against the Red Devils.
The Reds open their 2017/18 Premier League campaign with a home clash against West Ham United on August 12.