Liverpool could have Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane available for Leicester City’s visit to Anfield this Thursday.
That’s according to The Times, who claim that Salah is already back in England. The Egyptian will reportedly be at the AXA Training Centre today to be assessed by the Liverpool medical team.
The report goes on to say that Salah will be put on a bespoke training program. The 29-year-old is claimed to be ready to “throw himself back into club football” after his disappointment with the national team last week.
Meanwhile, The Times report that Sadio Mane is also “hoping to be involved” against The Foxes. But given that Mane is in Senegal where he is expected to meet the president later today, that would seem less likely.
Should Salah be given a break
It’s easy to see why Salah would be eager to return to the pitch with Liverpool so quickly. The loss in the AFCON final will be a difficult one to take.
Re-joining his club who are still fighting for all prizes available will be a welcome change of focus for Mo.
But the intensity of the last month with his country is likely to have drained him emotionally as well as physically. Salah was the only real hope for an unfancied Egypt side and the pressure that comes with that will have taken its toll.
Liverpool should also take into account that Mo played 120 minutes four times in less than two weeks. They can’t afford to take a chance with his fitness.
Surprisingly, Jurgen Klopp’s side have coped well in the absence of their talisman. There are plenty of games coming up that he will be desperately needed for, but The Reds should be able to manage without him on Thursday.
What about Mane
Obviously, Mane’s mindset will be the polar opposite of Salah’s. Having finally claimed Senegal’s very first AFCON, his confidence will be higher than ever.
But like Salah, the 29-year-old has carried the weight of the hopes of his nation. That could bring its own mental consequences, even if his own team’s journey ended victoriously.
With Luis Diaz already settling in, Mane’s return is a less pressing matter than it could have been.
It’s important that Liverpool allow him the time to enjoy his victory with his family, friends and adoring public back in Senegal.
He already stated that winning the trophy was “the best day of his life” (BBC Sport), Liverpool should give him a little time off to enjoy that.
Like Salah, Liverpool will need Mane back for bigger games than the one coming up. Jota is in great goalscoring form, Firmino is back fully up to speed, Minamino is proving handy and Diaz looks ready to play immediately.
As a result, Sunday’s trip to Burnley looks a more likely game for the pair to be involved in. Given that Liverpool then travel to Milan for their Champions League last 16 first-leg against Inter, they’ll want to get some minutes in the two players before that massive clash.
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