Liverpool are gearing up for crucial back-to-back Premier League showdowns, with the top-flight leaders set to face Chelsea and Arsenal in their next two games.
The Reds are currently top of the league and while they boast a lovely — but not unsurmountable — five-point lead at the summit, the Merseyside giants know they cannot afford slip-ups against these two rivals.
With that in mind, Klopp made a frustrating confirmation regarding one injured player. That man is Mohamed Salah, with the German tactician confirming the attacker will miss both games due to injury.
The Egyptian sensation sadly picked up a hamstring issue during his national team's 2-2 draw with Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations. He was eventually forced to return to Merseyside for treatment and with the Pharaohs having crashed out of the tournament, Salah will not be returning.
However, Klopp confirmed that the highly-rated winger will not recover in time for the aforementioned fixtures. While a cameo against Chelsea was never realistic, some fans held hope for the trip to the Emirates Stadium on February 4.
"He is injured," the departing manager stated in his press conference for Wednesday's clash with Chelsea. "It could have been much worse but he is not available at the moment, he is just doing rehab."
Jurgen Klopp rules Mohamed Salah out of Liverpool's games with Chelsea and Arsenal. "He is injured. It could have been much worse but he is not available at the moment, he is just doing rehab."
— David Lynch (@dmlynchlfc) January 30, 2024
Liverpool drew against Chelsea and Arsenal in their previous encounters earlier in the season. However, things should be trickier this time around.
Fortunately, the Merseyside giants have welcomed one superstar back to the team. That man is Trent Alexander-Arnold, who came off the bench in the 5-2 victory over Wigan in the FA Cup.
