KEY PLAYERS IN DOUBT AS REDS HOST EVERTON
Jan. 4: Mohamed Salah’s fitness, Philippe Coutinho’s future and Virgil van Dijk’s arrival are the three key issues facing Liverpool as they prepare to host neighbours Everton in the FA Cup’s outstanding third-round tie on Friday.
Salah, Liverpool’s 23goal top scorer, missed Monday’s 2-1 Premier League victory at Burnley because of a groin injury, and manager Jurgen Klopp has indicated that he remains a doubt.
Despite that, Klopp was happy for Egypt international Salah and Senegal forward Sadio Mane were both allowed to fly to Ghana for an awards ceremony taking place on Thursday.
Both men are on the shortlist for the Confederation of African Football’s player of the year award, and Klopp says is important that they are at the ceremony, even though it is so close to the Everton match.
“If it had been a match day, they wouldn’t have asked,” Klopp said. “For our side, it is just a sign of respect. We sleep in a hotel, they sleep in a plane. That is all the difference.”
Salah, Mane, Coutinho and Roberto Firmino are widely considered to be Liverpool’s four key forwards, though the Senegal international was the only one who started at Burnley, as Dominic Solanke was given a rare start.
Firmino was used only as a substitute, undoubtedly to keep him fresh for the Everton match, while Coutinho was omitted from the squad altogether with a thigh problem, amid reports that Barcelona were preparing a new attempt to sign him. “He is a doubt, at least a doubt, for Everton,” Klopp said.
Defender Van Dijk, meanwhile, is eligible to make his debut, having officially completed his £75 million move from Southampton on Monday.
If he is selected, it will mean Klopp fielding a fourth different central defensive partnership in four games.