Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Mohamed Salah is in contention to return from a muscular injury for Saturday's Premier League clash with Brentford.
The Egypt international last played for the Reds in their New Year's Day win over Newcastle United, after which he jetted off to Ivory Coast to compete for Africa Cup of Nations glory.
However, just two games into the tournament, Salah returned to Merseyside with a muscular injury sustained in the group stage, and Egypt's run in the competition subsequently came to a premature end with a last-16 loss to DR Congo on penalties.
The 31-year-old has been rehabilitating at Kirkby over the past few weeks, during which time Liverpool have coped relatively well in his absence, barring a 3-1 loss to title rivals Arsenal two weekends ago.
Earlier this week, Salah was pictured back in full training with the Reds, fuelling optimism that he could be part of Klopp's squad for their Saturday lunchtime trip to the Gtech Community Stadium.
© Reuters
When asked at his pre-game press conference if Salah could see the field in West London, Klopp replied: "Mo is back in full training, [so] that brings him automatically in contention of course."
Salah's imminent return represents one of a few pieces of good news for Liverpool on the availability front, as Klopp also confirmed that Joe Gomez and Alisson Becker are fit again after illness kept them out of last weekend's 3-1 win over Burnley.
Ibrahima Konate is also back at Klopp's disposal after missing the clash with the Clarets owing to suspension, having been given his marching orders against Arsenal, while Conor Bradley - who has been absent for Liverpool's last two games due to the death of his father - has returned to the first-team picture too.
Bradley's comeback is especially timely, as Liverpool lost fellow right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold to another knee injury in the success over Burnley, and reports have suggested that the Reds' vice-captain will be out until after the EFL Cup final against Chelsea on February 25.
Klopp confessed that Alexander-Arnold's looks set to miss the trip to Wembley, but Dominik Szoboszlai - who hurt his hamstring before the defeat to Arsenal on February 4 - might be given the green light to play in the final.
© Reuters
"How serious? Yeah, again, it's a super-intense period. People think about the final, which is fine absolutely, but before the final we have Brentford and Luton and I didn't think for a second about the final yet," Klopp added.
"'He can't play the final?!' Yes, that's one game but we have before then there are two games, which is as bad that they cannot play. I think with Dom it will be around that time, we will see how it exactly works.
"And with Trent, a week or two longer. It is not great but it was not to avoid, actually, that it happened. I would say, I'm not sure Dom has a chance for the final but maybe, and Trent will probably be after."
As well as Alexander-Arnold and Szoboszlai, Liverpool's quartet of long-term absentees - Thiago Alcantara (hip), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Ben Doak (knee) and Joel Matip (knee) - are no closer to making their comebacks.
Victory for the Reds on Saturday lunchtime will move them five points clear at the top of the Premier League table before Arsenal and Manchester City take to the pitch against Burnley and Chelsea respectively in the hours that follow.
No Data Analysis info
