Mohamed Salah is poised to return from injury for Liverpool’s Premier League match against Aston Villa, providing a crucial boost as the club aims for Champions League qualification.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot confirmed on Thursday that Mohamed Salah is likely to return to action for the Reds’ upcoming Premier League clash with Aston Villa on Saturday. This return comes after the forward recovered from a hamstring injury that had sidelined him since last month.
Salah’s injury occurred during Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace, raising concerns that he might have played his last game for the club, especially with speculation surrounding his potential departure from Anfield this summer. However, medical assessments revealed that the damage was less severe than initially feared, allowing for his timely return.
“Mo (Salah) will be available tomorrow but only for a few minutes. Hopefully, he can come in,” Slot told reporters ahead of the match. The manager also provided updates on other players, noting that Alisson had trained with the team and would be evaluated for his readiness, while Florian Wirtz was recovering from a stomach infection and on antibiotics.
As Liverpool sits fourth in the league standings, level on points with Aston Villa, a victory at Villa Park would secure a spot in next season’s Champions League. However, the club’s supporters have little else to look forward to in the final weeks of the campaign, as Liverpool has struggled to replicate last season’s success and will finish without silverware.
Slot’s future at the club has come under scrutiny, given the team’s performance this season. When asked about his position for the next season, he stated, “I don’t think I am deciding that myself alone. I have every reason to believe that I am the Liverpool manager next season. First of all, I am contracted to this club, and second of all from all the talks we are having.”
He acknowledged the challenges of the current season, saying, “If you don’t have the best season, especially if you compare it with last season, this has definitely not been a great season. Then it is normal that criticism comes, and we’ve all had our share. That is how things work nowadays, if you don’t win the league.”
Liverpool will host Brentford in their final league game of the season on May 24, as they look to end the campaign on a high note.
According to Reuters, the return of Salah could be pivotal for Liverpool as they aim to secure their place among Europe’s elite clubs next season.