Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool have to be 'careful' with Mohamed Salah injury return as Man City loom

Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool are having to remain cautious with Mohamed Salah's hamstring injury as the manager weighs up a first start since New Year's Day for his top scorer at Sparta Prague on Thursday.

Salah has featured for just 45 minutes since scoring twice in a 4-2 win over Newcastle United on January 1 after suffering a muscle issue on international duty with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations in a 2-2 draw with Ghana later that month.

The 19-goal top scorer returned from that problem in February's 4-1 victory at Brentford but suffered a recurrence of the injury during his second-half cameo and Liverpool have been carefully managing his comeback since.

Liverpool leave 18 players out of Sparta Prague Europe League squad as Mohamed Salah returns

Liverpool striker suffers concussion blow as injured duo remain absent for Jurgen Klopp

Salah has travelled with the squad that are entertained by Sparta Prague in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday night and while Klopp is delighted to have his marksman available for selection once more, the Reds boss hinted he might not be thrust immediately back into the action with Manchester City to visit Anfield in a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday.

"Mo Salah has travelled," Klopp said. "He is with us and has trained two days, he is full of energy, we have to see. But it is so good that he is back. It is really good and you can see it in his face.

"It was a very unlikely situation being that long out and then came back against Brentford, played an incredible game and was then out again, so that is how it is.

"We want to be careful, we have to be careful. But we're in the middle of a super intense period of the season and we need everyone. So let's see how long we