Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has, on Monday, provided an update on the fitness of star duo Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.
Both Salah and van Dijk, of course, set pulses racing across the Reds fanbase a little over 48 hours ago.
First up came wide-man Salah, who was forced to limp out of the club’s FA Cup finale showdown with Chelsea after pulling up with what appeared to be a groin problem.
Get well soon, @MoSalah ? pic.twitter.com/ykq5d5qcVU
— 433 (@433) May 14, 2022
Stopper van Dijk then followed suit ahead of extra-time getting underway at Wembley, owing to what the Dutchman himself later described as a ‘little twinge’ in his knee.
Concerns, in turn, had since understandably spread regarding the fitness of the pair, just two weeks out from Liverpool making the trip to Paris for a Champions League showpiece clash with Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Speaking to the media earlier this evening, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of both Salah and van Dijk’s wellbeing was put to boss Jurgen Klopp.
And though the German first confirmed that the pair have been ruled out of Liverpool’s trip to the south coast to face Southampton on Tuesday, he went on to reveal his hope that both will return to the fray to feature in at least some capacity against Wolves at the weekend.
The assumption, in turn, is that Salah and van Dijk will both have recovered full fitness in time for the Champions League final.
“No. Virg definitely not [available for Tuesday] but that was pretty much clear before the [Chelsea] game already that I thought, ‘OK, this is the game now.’ He played really a lot and then Saturday-Tuesday again. It was clear,” Klopp explained.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 14: Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip pose with the trophy following their side’s victory in The FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on May 14, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
“They are both OK. So, the target would be for both that they can be involved again on the weekend. Properly involved, bench or whatever and a few minutes or start, I don’t know, we will see that, because that would then be perfect for the game [Champions League final].
“But if not then we take each day afterwards. But we are very positive, or [have] no doubt about the final. I’m pretty realistic about the Wolves game, but tomorrow rather not.”
An injury update from the boss on @VirgilvDijk and @MoSalah ⤵
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 16, 2022
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