Following a very dramatic 3-2 victory at Newcastle United today, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp gave some important injury/fitness news related to two-thirds of his stellar front line.
It turns out the Reds will be without at least one, and quite possibly two, of their top notch attacking players for the home leg of their semifinal tie against FC Barcelona. It’s going to be a massive challenge for the Reds, as they’re down 3-0 on aggregate, and short-handed for Tuesday night. Mohamed Salah suffered a head injury and had to be stretchered off the pitch at St. James’ Park tonight.
However, he could actually be ready for the big midweek battle. However, it’s not serious.
“What I heard, he got the hip of the goalie on his head,” Klopp said.
“He was then on the ground and the doc had to make a decision ‘on the pitch or off the pitch’ and the decision was off the pitch. We accept that of course.”
“When we came in he was sitting in the dressing room watching the game on television. So he was then fine, but of course we have to wait. He got a proper knock, obviously, in that situation.”
That is great news for the Egyptian, who endured some frightening moments on Saturday. As for Firmino, we won’t see him until next weekend, if at all.
A muscular injury kept him out of the game today and Klopp said he is out of commission against the Catalan club.
“He will not be ready for Tuesday and the rest we will see,” the German said in reference to the season finale against Wolverhampton Wanderers, one of two games that will truly make May 12 “Championship Sunday.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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