Liverpool transfer news: Salah backs youngsters amid injury crisis

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has confidence in the club’s young players to help them negotiate a difficult period.

The Reds have been hampered by injuries all season, with long-term concerns for Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez leaving them short-staffed in defence.

Although manager Jurgen Klopp has said that Joel Matip is on his way back, the Reds continue to be linked with possible moves in January. Lille’s Sven Botman is one example.

Salah, though, does not believe these are necessary, thanks to the contribution of the club’s young stars. Neco Williams, Rhys Williams and Curtis Jones have been three of their most prominent academy graduates and have all impressed.

Indeed, when Salah was asked about the club’s transfer plans for the weeks ahead, he told BeIn Sport: “We have many young players who are playing well. I can’t say much about that, it’s the management call.”

He did admit, however, that the weight of problems they have had to cope with has been problematic.

“Injuries hit us badly this season, you can see how Fabinho is playing as a centre-back, but we can’t stop here, we should go on,” he added.

Salah, meanwhile, has dropped a hint that he might like to leave the Reds in the future. In the past, he has flirted with Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Manager Jurgen Klopp, though, believes that such a stance is understandable.

The German, meanwhile, has used the former Chelsea and Fiorentina man extensively this season. For Salah, though, that is a pleasure.

“I want to play every minute and all the games, I want to play 95 minutes not only 90, but I do respect the manager’s decisions,” he said.

Liverpool face a big game on Sunday when they host Manchester United in the Premier League. The defending champions, second in the standings, are three points off the pace of the league leaders.