Liverpool swept Bournemouth aside on Sunday to extend its lead at the top of the Premier League to five points. Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez were both on target twice for the Reds in a fine second-half display.
The 4-0 victory came despite Liverpool missing a host of its key players with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai both out through injury while Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endō are away with their international sides. Salah has been with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations but raised concerns at Anfield last week when he was forced off with an injury.
The full extent of the problem is yet to be confirmed. But, of course, Jürgen Klopp will be hoping he is not set for a spell on the sidelines with his side still in the running for four trophies this season.
Liverpool returns to action this week with its Carabao Cup semi-final second leg with Fulham, before the visit of Norwich in the FA Cup next weekend. Here are the two Liverpool.com stories from today that you shouldn’t miss. We start with more on the injury to Salah.
Mohamed Salah return plan confirmed
Jürgen Klopp has revealed Mohamed Salah is set to return to Liverpool to continue his treatment on the muscle injury he picked up at the Africa Cup of Nations. Salah was forced off during Egypt’s draw with Ghana and has undergone a scan on the issue.
He is now set to continue his rehabilitation with the Liverpool medical team but Klopp has not ruled out him returning to the tournament if Egypt makes it to the latter stages. The Egyptian FA also confirmed this in a statement.
“That is the plan, if that is already decided 100 per cent I don’t know,” Klopp said. “But that is the plan. However long he is out for, it makes sense he does the rehab with us and our people. Could he go back [to AFCON]? I am not a doctor but I would say if he is fit before the final and Egypt qualify then probably yes. Why not? That is the tournament.”
Egypt’s place in the knockout stages is not secure and they could exit the competition if they do not beat Cape Verde later this week. Read more from the Liverpool boss as he discusses Salah’s injury after the win over Bournemouth.
Triple boost to unleash Alexis Mac Allister
Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp could soon welcome back three players to his squad, providing him the opportunity to potentially push Alexis Mac Allister further up the pitch. The Argentine midfielder was predominantly used as a playmaker at Brighton but has often been deployed at the base of the midfield this season.
That has simply been down to the lack of options available to Klopp, although Wataru Endō was starting to impress before he left for the Asia Cup. That coincided with Mac Allister being sidelined with injury and it remains to be seen where the pair would play in the same line-up.
Klopp could also be about to welcome back young midfielder Stefan Bajčetić from injury while Thiago Alcântara has not played at all this season. Both players would be welcome additions to the squad for Klopp and would lessen the necessity to rely on Mac Allister in a deeper role.
That said, the Argentine turned in one of his best displays in a Liverpool shirt at Bournemouth on Sunday, impressing in the deeper Nnumber six role. You can read about how Klopp could deploy the ex-Brighton man with James Martin.
