- Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Mohamed Salah was close to getting injured against Everton
- The Reds boss was criticised for taking the Egypt international off early in that game
- But Klopp insists he was concerned that Salah could pick up a hamstring injury
- READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news: Spanish giants interested in swoop for 64-goal Reds ace
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted he kept quiet about his concern that Mohamed Salah could pick up an injury against Everton in Sunday’s Merseyside Derby.
The German tactician was criticised for some of his decision-making in that match, with Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino starting on the bench and with Salah being subbed off surprisingly early with the score still at 1-0.
The Egypt international opened the scoring against Everton with a superb solo effort and has generally been one of the best attacking players in Europe this season.
Worryingly for Liverpool, it’s now been revealed that Salah was close to suffering a hamstring injury, with Klopp letting this information slip out a few days afterwards.
‘I took Mo Salah off because he had a hamstring a little bit,’ Klopp was quoted in the Metro.
MORE: Liverpool FC news
‘Then everyone said “how can you take him off?” and stuff like this. I don’t go out and say “yeah, but he is close to being injured”.
‘He is not at the moment, thank God. Hopefully we took him off early enough.’
It remains to be seen if Liverpool will have the luxury of resting such an important player any time soon, though they do have options in that front three.
Sadio Mane has been another key member of this Reds attack in recent times, while Coutinho and Firmino may end up benefiting from starting the Merseyside Derby on the bench.