Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is engaged in a critical fitness battle to be available for the club's upcoming FA Cup quarter-final showdown against Manchester City. The Egyptian international has been sidelined with a muscle injury that will keep him out until after the international break, dealing a significant blow to head coach Arne Slot's plans.
Double Injury Blow for Liverpool
In a further setback for the Reds, first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker did not travel with the squad for their match against Brighton. The Brazil Football Confederation confirmed on Friday afternoon that injury had forced his withdrawal from their national team squad for upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia in the United States.
Salah's Recent Form and Injury Concerns
Salah's absence represents a substantial setback for Liverpool, particularly given his recent excellent form. The 33-year-old had scored in three of his last four starts and delivered one of his finest performances of the season during Liverpool's midweek Champions League victory over Galatasaray.
The worrying signs emerged when Salah gestured to the bench to be substituted immediately after scoring against Galatasaray. Liverpool manager Arne Slot confirmed the severity of the situation ahead of the Brighton trip, stating: "Indeed, unusual and as a result of that you can expect the outcome: he's not available for tomorrow."
Slot added: "The good thing for Liverpool is we go to an international break, and the bad thing for Egypt is that he can't go there. We're hoping with what Mo has shown in the past that he can recover faster than other players in similar situations because he takes such good care of his body."
Salah's Remarkable Injury Record
Mohamed Salah has demonstrated exceptional resilience throughout his Liverpool career, missing just ten Premier League matches through injury since joining the club in 2017. This current muscle problem represents his first significant injury since a hamstring issue in January 2024.
"History has shown he can be back earlier than some others," noted Slot, "but it's only two weeks until we go again, so let's hope in that period of time he can be back."
Tactical Challenges for Slot
Salah's absence creates additional tactical complications for Arne Slot, placing extra pressure on the right side of Liverpool's formation. During the midweek European fixture, Jeremie Frimpong operated at full-back and could potentially stand in for Salah further forward if required.
However, this adjustment would necessitate moving Dominik Szoboszlai – Liverpool's standout performer this season – back into a defensive role, despite his starring midfield display against Galatasaray. This positional shift is particularly problematic with Joe Gomez unavailable due to fitness concerns.
Slot's Frustration with Selection Dilemmas
The Liverpool manager expressed clear frustration about repeatedly having to deploy Szoboszlai out of position. "I don't know how many times I have to say this: Dominik is a midfielder. Should I say this five or six times?" questioned Slot.
He elaborated: "So the moment I play him in a different position doesn't mean I am trying to be a tactical genius, it means I don't have options. So if I have a full-back on the bench, ask yourself if he is fit to play?"
Slot emphasized the compromise: "Every time I make a line-up, there must be a reason why he is playing right full-back because Dominik is a very good midfielder for us. If everybody is available the team is stronger when he is playing in midfield, but if we miss five, six, seven players then maybe we disagree the team is strongest playing him at full-back."
Alisson's Recent Availability
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker missed last week's Champions League first leg against Galatasaray following an injury scare but subsequently returned to feature against Tottenham last weekend and in Wednesday's second-leg victory. His current absence compounds Liverpool's selection headaches as they prepare for crucial domestic and European fixtures.
