Carvalhal will have no complaints if Liverpool rest Salah for Stoke City
Swansea City manager Carlos Carvalhal will have no complaints if Jurgen Klopp decides to rest Mohamed Salah for Liverpool’s Premier League meeting with relegation rivals Stoke City tomorrow.
Egyptian forward Salah, 25, took his goals tally for the season to 43 with a double in Liverpool’s 5-2 Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg victory over Roma on Tuesday.
With the return fixture in the Italian capital on Wednesday, Klopp may be tempted to give some of his key players a break this weekend when Liverpool host Stoke at Anfield.
Should Liverpool field a weakened side it could, theoretically, increase Stoke’s chances of a critical victory. Stoke are in 19th place with three games remaining, while Swansea are four points ahead in 17th with four games still to play.
However, Carvalhal, whose side host Chelsea at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow, is confident Liverpool will still be competitive, with or without Salah.
“Liverpool is not just about Salah, they can win without this player,” the Portuguese said. “He is fantastic, the player of the season, but they do not depend on one player.
“It is about their dynamic and shape and they are very positive in this moment. Even if they make changes, they will have most of their same side. It is like what we did in the cup and we won games, and they have ambitions in the competition for second spot.”
While Liverpool could shake up their squad, Stoke manager Paul Lambert said he will not reconsider the exiles of attacking trio Saido Berahino, Jese Rodriguez and Ibrahim Afellay despite the club’s desperate need for goals. Berahino, who has still yet to score for Stoke, has been banished to the under-23s after often arriving late while Rodriguez is absent back home in Spain.
“I’ve got no qualms whatsoever about it. It’s my decision, I think it’s right for the football club,” Lambert said.
Stoke are on an 11-game winless run during which they have scored only seven goals.
Chairman Peter Coates confirmed this week that Lambert will stay in his post whether or not Stoke go down having been impressed by the improvement in performances if not results since the Scot took over.
“Some players will probably be happy and some not happy, but that’s football. I’m glad to have the chance to rebuild it, whatever league we are in.
“It’s nice to hear. I get on well with everybody here, but I also know it’s a big job.”