‘First time’… Jurgen Klopp says he told Mo Salah to do something completely new during tonight’s game vs Sparta Prague

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Liverpool breezed past Sparta Prague and into the Europa League quarter-finals this evening.

5-1 up from the first-leg, the Reds didn’t have too much to worry about heading into the game. And the tie was done and dusted after 14 minutes of tonight’s encounter. Not even a quarter of an hour played and Liverpool were 4-0 up.

Although Sparta pulled one back, the Reds added two more to the scoreline to romp to an 11-2 aggregate win. Despite the comfortable nature of the game though, Jurgen Klopp still sought to bring some big names on. The score was already 6-1 by the time Virgil van Dijk surprisingly came on.

Injury to Bobby Clark then meant that Jurgen Klopp had to use his final substitution before he’d planned. With Mohamed Salah seemingly planned to come off, the manager had to rethink. With no more changes to make, Salah had to play the full 90 minutes. But according to Klopp’s post-match interview with TNT Sports, the Egyptian was absolutely fine.

“Mo recovered already in the second-half,” said the manager, before admitting to giving some unique instructions to his No.11. “Mo is a very experienced player, I told him, I think the first time I ever told any player, just stop defending. Don’t run in that direction anymore.

“Then he nearly set up a wonderful goal, Cody [Gakpo] was offside in that moment. Yeah, he’s very experienced so he easily got over the line.”

No fitness trouble for Salah

Heading into the game, Klopp had claimed that Salah actually was not quite ready to play 90 minutes following his return from injury.

However, although he technically did get through the full game tonight, it was hardly a testing match-up for Mo.

As Jurgen says, Salah is now one of the most experienced players in the Liverpool squad. He knows exactly how to look after his body.

Without the need to go full-pelt from around minute 15 this evening, the 31-year-old will have been able to go through the motions. So, in many ways it was actually the perfect conditions for Salah to get his fitness back up while also gaining match sharpness.

Hopefully that will mean that there are no further setbacks for the Egyptian King this season. He’s already missed far more football than he’s used to in 2023/24.

If Liverpool are to maintain there push for an unlikely quadruple, then they’re going to need Salah back and firing. A goal and an assist tonight should have got his eye back in.

After coming off the bench against Manchester City on Sunday, you’d now expect that Mo will start against United on this weekend.

He certainly loves a good run out at Old Trafford. Salah has scored in his last four visits to the home of Liverpool’s great rivals. Another one on Sunday would be very welcome. Mo might need to do a bit of work back the other way too this time, mind you.