Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp fears for injured Mohamed Salah with possible Olympic call-up

Jurgen Klopp’s frequently-voiced concerns over the fixture demands placed on top players have been deepened by the prospect of Mo Salah being called-up by Egypt for the Olympics next summer.

It is understood Egyptian FA officials are keen for the talismanic Liverpool striker to be one of three ‘over-age’ players in their Under 23 squad for Japan.

That would mean the striker facing a third consecutive summer international tournament after appearing for his country in the World Cup in 2018 and the African Cup of Nations earlier this year.

Salah (seen training on Thursday) is a doubt for Liverpool’s trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday 

And the prospect of Salah coming off the back of what could be a 60-game plus season for club and country to head to the Olympics is clearly not something Klopp is relishing.

He will prefer that the striker has a complete break next summer and will investigate whether Salah would want – or is even allowed – to decline a call-up for a tournament that runs from July 22 to August 8 and would rule him out of Liverpool’s pre-season preparations and the start of next season.

Klopp said: ‘There are some problems I know in the future, this I know from an hour ago that Egypt have qualified for the Olympics. I have to speak to Mo. I don’t know if I do it today, or whenever. Who said they want him? Do they have a manager who said it? Do we know if we have to [send]? I do not know that.’

While that is a long-term issue, Klopp has a more immediate concern over Salah who faces a late fitness on a niggling ankle injury ahead of the visit to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Salah originally injured his ankle after a late challenge from Leicester’s Hamza Choudhury 

Klopp admits the club’s medical staff are having to manage an injury Salah first suffered in a tackle by Leicester’s Hamza Choudury six weeks ago and aggravated in the win over title rivals Manchester City a fortnight ago, forcing the player out of action for his country during the international break.

While dismissing suggestions Salah might need surgery, Klopp admitted the injury remains a concern.

‘No, he doesn’t need an operation,’ he said. ‘It is from the Leicester game. It was getting better and better but it flared up again after the City game again, another tackle.

‘It is not serious but in the short period we have to let it settle and it is always tight for the game. We will see. He trained completely yesterday, a full session, but we have to see how he reacted.

Salah was recently named one of seven Liverpool players to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or

‘He has trained the whole time has has been here during the international break but only the things we have wanted him to do. It’s not that it has got worse, but it’s still kind of there. It’s still there, that’s the problem. We have to be sensible with things like this. We have to make a decision.’

Meanwhile, Klopp has confirmed that he will not be in charge of Liverpool for their EFL Cup quarter-final against Aston Villa on December 17 because he will have to be in Qatar for media duties ahead of their Club World Cup semi-final the following day.

There was a theory that Klopp could be at Villa Park and then fly to the Middle East immediately after the game but FIFA will insist he is in Qatar the day before the game. His No 2 Pep Lijnders is likely to be in charge of the team to face Villa.

‘I cannot be in two places at the same time,’ he said. ‘I have to be in Qatar. That is how it is. Who will take charge at Villa Park will be announced later.’

While there are doubts over Salah, Virgil Van Dijk is available on Saturday after withdrawing from Holland’s final Euro 2020 qualifier for ‘personal reasons.’ 

And Klopp says Joe Gomez is ‘better than good’ after his bust-up with Raheem Sterling on England duty, insisting the issue was blown out of proportion.