Jurgen Klopp has some decisions to make with his line-up for Liverpool’s game against Manchester City on Sunday.
Klopp has had to heavily rotate his squad over recent weeks, with injury problems catching up with the Reds. Another issue reared its head last night, with Ibrahima Konate picking up a knock just three days before the big match.
Thankfully, they’ve also got a couple of players coming back after breaks of their own. Dominik Szoboszlai already had some minutes in his legs having come on against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah returned to action in Prague last night.
And speaking to ESPN FC after the 5-1 Europa League win yesterday, Liverpool legend Steve Nicol said that both players simply must start against City.
“More importantly they got Szoboszlai and they got Salah on the field and got the blood pumping through their veins again,” said Nicol.
“Because there’s no question, if those two in particular have no problems after the short time they were on the field, they have to start against Manchester City.”
Szoboszlai and Salah return
Although they are still missing two or three really key players, Liverpool suddenly look a lot stronger with both Szoboszlai and Salah added to the squad.
The pair have been two of the Reds’ most important players all season long. Salah’s input goes without saying, while Szoboszlai has stepped in to become a real lynchpin of the midfield.
Against City, Liverpool will need the strongest squad out that they can possibly muster. Having now played 53 minutes – and scored a record-breaking goal – in the past week, surely Szoboszlai will be ready.
For Salah, it will maybe be more of a later call. The Egyptian only played 16 minutes last night and has already been brought back from his original injury a little too soon. Liverpool can’t make the same mistake with him again.
As a result, the Reds must check and check again if Salah is ready. If it has to be a spot on the bench for the 31-year-old, then so be it.
If he can start though, with Szoboszlai on the teamsheet too, Liverpool will be much closer to having their best XI out against the champions.
From the starters, it’s only really Alisson Becker and Trent Alexander-Arnold who are nailed on and missing. Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota are also arguably in Liverpool’s best team, but there are viable alternatives.
So, we’re with Stevie here. As long as there are no further issues this week, then both Szoboszlai and Salah should be out there on Sunday.
