Mo Salah "Ready to Start" for Liverpool, Says Jurgen Klopp

Mo Salah is ready to feature in Liverpool's starting XI for the first time since January 1, according to Jurgen Klopp.

The 31-year-old has made just three appearances - all as a substitute - in Liverpool's last 15 games in all competitions.

Salah suffered a hamstring injury in January while on international duty with Egypt.

He returned with a brilliant performance in a 4-1 win at Brentford on February 17 but an injury setback then saw him miss the next four games.

Salah has made cameos in Liverpool's last two matches, coming on midway through the second half in last Thursday's 5-1 win over Sparta Prague and then again in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

Reds manager Klopp hinted at a press conference on Tuesday that Salah could now start against Prague in this week's Europa League round of 16 second leg at Anfield.

Mo Salah is likely to return to the Liverpool starting XI this week

IMAGO/PA Images/Peter Byrne

As quoted by BBC Sport, Klopp said: "I am not sure he's ready for 90 minutes but he's ready to start. That's how it is. He could have started last game, but I'm not sure for how long.

"That's how it is when players come back. I cannot remember a game where I've thought 'ah good, Mo Salah is not playing, no problems'. It never happens.

"There was a game last Sunday and there are 10 more Premier League games, plus hopefully a lot more cup and European games. They are all as important.

"He is ready to start. Should that then be 90 minutes? It depends how it looks in that moment. He can normally play game after game. He was out for an unsurprisingly long time. But now he is back and we have to make sure we can count on him consistently again."

With his team four goals up from the first leg, Klopp may opt to rest some of his senior stars against Prague on Thursday.

But he is expected to field his strongest possible XI on Sunday when Liverpool visit Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Salah has an impressive record against Man United in the Premier League, having scored 10 goals and assisted another four in 12 matches.

United have only beaten a Liverpool team containing Salah twice in EPL history.

However, Salah and Liverpool lost 3-2 at Old Trafford in the fourth round of the FA Cup in January 2021.

Salah scored two goals in that FA Cup defeat, which was played behind closed doors due to the COVID pandemic.