Jurgen Klopp has cast doubt over Mohamed Salah‘s involvement for Liverpool’s New Year’s Day clash with Burnley due to a minor injury concern.
Salah was substituted 82 minutes into the Reds’ 2-1 victory over Leicester City on Saturday, after scoring a vital brace to seal all three points.
Liverpool had gone behind after just two minutes as Jamie Vardy tapped home from Riyad Mahrez’s square cross, but lifted by a buoyant Anfield Klopp’s side were able to recover.
His star winger was clearly influential, overcoming a difficult first half that saw him miss a trio of great chances to net his 22nd and 23rd goals of a triumphant maiden campaign.
It was something of a surprise to see Salah start on Saturday, having not been rested since the 3-0 win away to Stoke City on November 29.
But it seems likely he will at least start on the substitutes’ bench, having limped off late on at Anfield.
Speaking as part of his post-match press conference, Klopp said it was “never a good sign,” with the Egyptian now facing a fitness test ahead of the trip to Turf Moor.
“He was limping a little at the end, that is never a good sign,” he told reporters.
“We have to check and see what he can do for the next game.”
Salah was once again a man-of-the-match candidate in the Reds’ 12th consecutive league game unbeaten, a record for Klopp’s tenure on Merseyside.
His impact since joining from AS Roma in a £36.9 million deal in June has been phenomenal, and Klopp lavished praise on his No. 11.
However, he was quick to highlight the importance of Salah’s supporting cast, with Sadio Mane and James Milner providing the assists on Saturday.
“We scored two fantastic goals, they felt so good—so fair in this moment and so deserved,” he added.
“Salah can keep his standard for sure and also keep improving.
“He knows he wouldn’t score without help from the team. Sadio’s thinking for the first goal was really important.”
For this latest win Klopp made five changes to his side from Boxing Day’s 5-0 thrashing of Swansea City, and he can be expected to take a similar approach on January 1.
Salah could have expected to miss out either way, but this fitness scare will almost certainly ensures he is one of those rotated.
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