Despite a 5-1 advantage from the first leg, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Egyptian forward Mohammed Salah may start on Thursday in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League round of 16 clash.

Mohamed Salah was a second-half substitute in Liverpool’s 5-1 win over Sparta Prague in the first leg, where he had a goal canceled out by VAR. He appeared in the fixture just days after returning from injury before featuring for 30 minutes in Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City in the Premier League last Sunday, and now Jurgen Klopp says he’s fit.

“It’s super important we build up Mo; he’s ready and a top fit. I’m not sure he’s ready for 90 minutes, I’m not sure we should do 90 minutes, but he’s ready to start. He would’ve been ready to start the last game [the 1-1 draw with Manchester City], but you don’t know how long it would’ve made sense for, and that’s always the problem when players come back. There are 10 more Premier League games and hopefully more European and cup games, and they are as important. He’s back, and we have to make sure we can really count on him consistently.” Klopp said.

Salah has 19 goals as Liverpool’s top scorer this season, but he’s yet to start a game for the Reds since tearing a hamstring in Egypt’s 2-2 Afcon draw with Ghana in January.

He was a substitute and scored in Liverpool’s 4-1 win at Brentford on 17 February but he was out for the next four matches for the Reds, including the Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea.

Liverpool’s first leg 5-1 win in Prague saw two goals from Darwin Nunez, while Alexis Mac Allister, Luis Diaz, and Dominik Szoboszlai were on target. Liverpool can still add three more trophies to the Carabao Cup this season as they are second in the Premier League and also in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu