Liverpool fans are eagerly anticipating Mo Salah’s recovery from his recent muscle injury, particularly with the crucial clash against Manchester City looming on Sunday.
The Egyptian forward is set to resume full training this week, sparking hopes of his participation in the pivotal match at Anfield against Pep Guardiola’s formidable side. However, if Salah is unable to feature in this weekend’s fixture, there may be a silver lining amidst the disappointment.
Once again, Salah finds himself entangled in a club-versus-country dilemma, as the Egyptian Football Association asserts its intention to summon him for their March fixtures if he plays for Jurgen Klopp’s team in the interim period.
Neil Jones, sharing his insights on The Redmen TV’s Journo Insight show, discussed a potential scenario where Salah misses the clash against City but ultimately benefits Liverpool in the long term.
Jones expressed surprise at the prospect of Salah’s involvement against Sparta Prague but suggested that even a brief cameo appearance off the bench against City would be appreciated by Liverpool.
He speculated on Liverpool’s approach if Salah fails to return to training this week, raising the possibility of the club opting for an additional week to ensure his complete recovery, potentially ruling him out of the Egypt squad.
Such a strategy would result in a rejuvenated Salah returning after the international break, ideally fully healed and ready for the upcoming fixtures.
Klopp faces a significant decision regarding Salah’s inclusion in the crucial clash against Man City on Sunday. Jones advocates prioritizing Salah’s long-term fitness over short-term gains.
If Salah remains sidelined until Egypt’s squad announcement for their upcoming matches and is subsequently omitted, he gains valuable additional time to prepare for the crucial period after Easter.
However, if Salah shows even slight signs of fitness for the weekend, it would be unwise to exclude the top scorer from this season’s most important fixture thus far, especially considering his impressive track record against Guardiola’s side.
Salah has consistently found the net against City at Anfield since 2018 and has been a key figure in his last seven Premier League encounters against them.
Should Salah be deemed fit to play on Sunday, he is likely to be called upon, even if it means sacrificing him to national team duty later in the month.
Conversely, if he fails to recover in time for the weekend, it could ultimately benefit Liverpool’s season in the long run by ensuring he is fully prepared for the crucial matches ahead—provided the Egyptian FA adheres to their commitment not to summon him unless he features for Liverpool in the interim period.