Europa League: Salah Ready to Start for Liverpool at Sparta Prague

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted yesterday that forward Mohamed Salah is “ready to start” when the Reds take on Sparta Prague in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie today.

Salah has not started for Liverpool since 1 January after picking up a hamstring injurywhen representing Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Liverpool hold a 5-1 leadafter a convincing win in the Czech Republic.

“It’s super important we build up Mo, he’s ready, top fit,” said Klopp.

“I’m not sure he’s ready for 90 minutes, I’m not sure we should do 90 minutes, but he’s ready to start.

“He would’ve been ready to start the last game [the 1-1 draw with Manchester City] but you don’t know how long it would’ve made sense for and that’s always the problem when players come back.

“There are 10 more Premier League games and hopefully more European and cup games, and they are as important.

“Mo usually can play game after game, now he was out for a surprisingly long time. He’s back and we have to make sure we can really count on him consistently.”

Salah is the club’s top scorer this season with 19 goals, but tore a hamstring in Egypt’s 2-2 Afcon draw with Ghana in January.

He came on as a substitute and scored in Liverpool’s 4-1 win at Brentford on 17 February but then missed the Reds’ next four matches, including the 1-0 Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea.

RESULTS

UCL

Atletico 2-1 Inter

(2-2 agg. 3-2 pen)

Dortmund 2-0 PSV

( 3-1 agg)

EUROPA LEAGUE

Rangers v Benfica

S’Prague v AC Milan

Villarreal v Marseille

West Ham v Freiburg

Atalanta v Sporting