Liverpool hope Salah will be fit to face Barcelona

LIVERPOOL manager Juergen Klopp is hopeful Mohamed Salah can play against Barcelona after the striker left Saturday’s game on a stretcher.

Salah, who leads the Premier League with 22 goals, was carried off in second half at Newcastle after colliding with goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

He was replaced by Divock Origi, whose 86th-minute goal gave Liverpool a 3-2 win that sent them back to the top of the Premier League.

“Mo got the hip of the goalie in his head and then was on the ground,” Klopp said afterwards.

“The doctor had to make a decision – on the pitch or off the pitch – and the decision was off the pitch and we accept that of course.

“When we came in, he was sitting in the dressing room and had watched the game.

“He was then fine but of course we have to wait.”

Liverpool look to overturn a 3-0 deficit when they host Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tomorrow.

While Salah could be available, strike partner Roberto Firmino will not.

Firmino, who has a muscle injury, sat out at Newcastle after only being used as a substitute in Barcelona last Wednesday.

“He will not be ready for Tuesday and the rest (of the season) we will see,” Klopp said.

Liverpool’s win sends the league title race to the final game next weekend.

The Reds are two points clear of defending champions Manchester City, who can return top by beating Leicester today.

Liverpool then host Wolverhampton Wanderers in their finale while Man City visit Brighton.