Arne Slot gives time table of Mohamed Salah return from injury, will he be back in time?
Liverpool are in the midst of a chase for the top five in the Premier League, but they are going to have to do so without their Mohamed Salah for now.
Liverpool are gearing up for a final sprint to the finish line with a top five finish in their sights. That’s the priority, but giving club legend Mohamed Salah a proper goodbye is on the short list of top priorities before he departs in the summer.
Salah expected back
Salah was injured in the match against Crystal Palace and immediately there were fears that the Egyptian had played his final match at Liverpool. With four matches left it will be a race against time to see if his hamstring will recover before the final match of the season on the 24th of May.
The initial diagnosis was a hamstring injury that was going to keep him out for four weeks, which worried those close to the club looking to give one of their living legends a fitting farewell. Arne Slot said he won’t be available for the weekend match against Manchester United, but expects him to play at least one more match with the Reds. “We expect him to be back for the final part of the season but not for Sunday.”
While a ceremonious swan song is something the club want to reward Salah with, there is still business to tend to in the league. They are wanting to secure a top five spot in the table to secure Champions League play next season. Currently fourth in the league, tied on points with Aston Villa at 58 points, they have an 8 point cushion over the closest challenger in sixth place, Brighton, at 50 points.
Swan song at Anfield?
Not for the first time, Slot commended the Egyptians work ethic and dedication to the club even in his final days as a Red. “As we know from Mo, he is always working incredibly hard when he is fit but also when he is injured to be back as soon as possible,” said Slot.
In the moments after the Palace match last weekend there was not just concern that Salah would miss the rest of the club campaign, but there were serious worries that he could miss the World Cup. Slot assured all of Egypt that their star should be set for the tournament that kicks off in just over 40 days. “In all ways it is a big relief that his injury is minor so he is able to play for us [again] and at the World Cup.
The good news for Salah, Liverpool and the fans is the final match of the season will be played at Anfield. By the time Brentford come into town Salah should be on course for a comeback, if not earlier and the Reds will be hoping to have a top five spot locked up by then. If that’s the case they can turn all of their attention to Salah goodbye. Slot acknowledged that a proper sendoff is in order after all Salah has done for the club, “If ever there was a player that deserves a big send-off, it is definitely Mo.”
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