Liverpool get huge Mohamed Salah boost as Jurgen Klopp delivers positive fitness update ahead of Brentford clash

The Egyptian superstar picked up an untimely knock while away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations. He returned to England for treatment after being laid low, with a muscular problem confirmed to be more serious than first feared.

Salah’s last appearance for Liverpool came on New Year’s Day, when he bagged a brace in a 4-2 victory over Newcastle, but he has returned to the training ground this week and could see more game time in a trip to Brentford. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has said: “Mo is back in full training. That brings him automatically into contention.”

Salah is not the only senior star back at Klopp’s disposal, with the German going on to say when delivering a full update on his squad ahead of a meeting with the Bees: “Ibou [Ibrahima Konate] is not suspended any more, Joey [Gomez] is fit again, Conor [Bradley] is back, Ali [Alisson] is back, so that's all positive.”

On those that are ruled out, with Trent Alexander-Arnold back on the sidelines, Klopp added: “Thiago [Alcantara], no. And Trent, no. I wasn't really aware of it but I caught some of the news there was a discussion we might have forced Trent back, he has had setbacks and nobody wants that. As long as I've been here we've never forced anyone back. But we work in a high performance area. We always try to catch them at the earliest moment, unfortunately when we catch that early nobody speaks about that. The last decision is always by the player. When the boys played they were fit, but the situation told us differently as it happened again. Very, very unlucky and unfortunate.”

Liverpool head into the latest round of fixtures sat at the top of the Premier League table. They are only two points clear of defending champions Manchester City, who boast a game in hand, so will be delighted to have three-time Golden Boot winner Salah back as they look to build momentum.