Liverpool vs Man City: Why is Mohamed Salah on the bench today?

Liverpool vs Man City takes place at Anfield today and Mohamed Salah has returned to the Premier League matchday squad. The Egyptian starts on the bench as he is yet to regain full-match fitness.

Salah has been dealing with injuries in 2024 and has missed a few matches for club and country. He had to sit out of AFCON after picking up a hamstring injury in Egypt’s second match of the tournament.

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He was back for Liverpool in their 4-1 win over Brentford but picked up another muscle injury in the game. He has been out of their last four matches in all competitions but returned to the match during the midweek when the Reds faced Sparta Prague in the UEFA Europa League. 

Jurgen Klopp is taking things easy with the former Chelsea star and has not rushed him back to the starting XI against Manchester City. He is expected to remain on the bench unless the Reds need him in the second half of the match at Anfield. 

Jurgen Klopp confirmed Mohamed Salah was back for Liverpool vs Man City

Jurgen Klopp spoke about Mohamed Salah in his pre-match press conference and confirmed that the Egyptian is back in training. However, he admitted that the decision on hos much the forward would play was yet to be taken. 

He said:

“Yeah, Mo travelled. He is with us, he trained two days, so full of energy. We have to see. But it is so good that he is back, that is really good for us and you can see in his face he is very happy. A very unlucky situation with being that long out and in for a moment, if you want, at Brentford, played an incredible game there and was out again. That’s how it is.”

Klopp added:

“We want to be careful, we have to be careful, but in the middle of a super-intense period of the season we need everybody and now let’s see how long we can use him. That’s how it is with him and with others as well. Yeah, just good news.”

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When quizzed if Liverpool would allow Salah to join the Egypt national team for the upcoming international break, Klopp said:

“That is nothing to do [with me] really. That will be decided in different departments. No, nothing to do with that. Let’s see how long he can play now. As I said, two days in team training – so, in a different situation players are not in the squad in this moment, but in our situation it makes sense.”

He added:

“What can we give him? How much can we use him? We will see that. And then there are two games with Egypt, but it’s really not up to me or stuff like this, we are not really involved. That is discussed in other departments, let me say it like that.”

Liverpool need a win against Manchester City to head back to the top of the table. A draw would see them remain second, while a loss would see them slip to third – two points behind the Cityzens.