Jurgen Klopp delivers Mohamed Salah fitness update and admits Liverpool selection issue

Jurgen Klopp has hinted Mohamed Salah could start against Sparta Prague on Thursday as Liverpool continue to manage the minutes of their leading scorer following his return from a hamstring injury.

Salah was restricted to just one substitute appearance for the Reds in two months before making his comeback with a late cameo in the 5-1 win in Czechia last week in the Europa League round of 16 first leg.

The 31-year-old then came off the bench shortly after the hour in the 1-1 Premier League draw at home to Manchester City on Sunday, and may now be given an extended run-out in the second leg against Sparta ahead of Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final showdown at bitter North West rivals Manchester United.

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“I am not sure he is ready for 90 minutes or that we should do 90 minutes but he is ready to start," said Klopp. "He would've been ready to start the last game but you don't know how long does it makes sense.

"It is always the problem when players come back. I can’t remember a game where I though, 'Ah, Mo Salah cannot play, no problem' – it has never happened so it is not cool not to have him.

"But there was a game on last Sunday (against City) and there are 10 more Premier League games and hopefully a lot more cup and European games, so they are as important. Mo is completely fine with that. Would he would have loved to play a bit longer? Probably, yes. It wouldn’t have been impossible playing longer. It is super-important you build up Mo but in this game, changing at half-time was not necessary or possible as we have to deal with changes pretty