Salah to miss first Liverpool friendly
LIVERPOOL’S new signing Mohamed Salah will not feature in their first pre-season friendly at Tranmere because of immigration protocol.
The Egypt international, a £34.3million signing from Roma, began training at Melwood on Saturday a few days later than the rest of the squad.
However, standard immigration procedure requires him to leave the country and then return.
“Mo Salah is here in training but cannot play because of the rules, so that’s what we have to accept,” manager Jurgen Klopp told liverpoolfc.com.
“We will try to get the working permission or the visa, I’m not sure what it is we need to get but we have to go to Paris and leave him there for a day or two and then he’ll come back. “We are hopeful he can play soon.” Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho will also not feature at Prenton Park as they only returned to training on Tuesday after an extended summer break following international commitments.
The England international is looking forward to playing alongside the Brazilian again.
“He’s in great shape. I can’t wait to see the ‘Little Magician’ back on the pitch again,” he said.
Away from the first team Klopp has pledged to give Steven Gerrard all the support he needs as the former captain prepares for his first full season as coach.
Gerrard has taken over the club’s under-18s team, having closely associated himself with that group during his initial roving role at the club’s academy in February.
He will oversee them in their first pre-season friendly against Burton Albion behind closed doors at St George’s Park and Klopp is keen to give the former midfielder all the help he requires to develop the club’s next generation of players.
“I can imagine how excited he is,” said Klopp.
“It’s a wonderful job to work with these skilled boys and to do the things you think are right for them, bring in new experience and learn a lot of things at the same time.
“It will be a fantastic time for him. Of course we’ll have a close relationship with him and the U23s, we always had it.
“It’s very important for us because that’s our next generation and we want to help them as much as we can. Of course we’ll be in close contact.”