Liverpool’s flying winger Mohamed Salah is a major doubt for the Reds’ UEFA Champions League opener against Sevilla, Jurgen Klopp revealed on the eve of the continental fixture.
“Mo, we sent him home tonight, that’s right. He was in; Mo said he can train, the doc said he could train. But then I asked the doc what would be best for him and he said (it would be) if he doesn’t have to train because he has a little bit of a sore throat,” Klopp said at the pre-match press conference.
Liverpool, who were mauled by Manchester City on the weekend, are seeking to bounce back in style but against Sevilla, will not find the going easy and need all their players available for selection if they are to register a win.
Los Nervionenses famously made a comeback in the 2016 UEFA Europa League Final over Liverpool and the English side will be itching to get some semblance of revenge for their heartbreak at the hands of the Andalusians. And the fact that they are unbeaten in the Spanish La Liga with seven points from three games give’s Wednesday’s tie at Anfield another layer of intrigue.
“It should not be that serious, so we sent him home so he cannot spread the virus, if it is a virus,” Klopp said, adding, “In this moment we expect him back tomorrow morning for normal training”.
Philippe Coutinho is in contention to start after being rested on the weekend and after failing to engineer a move to Barcelona in the summer, the Brazilian will look to let his footballing performances make the headlines for once.