Jurgen Klopp said Mohamed Salah was never in contention to start for Liverpool against Manchester City on Sunday, as the Egyptian had to settle for a place on the bench.
The Reds forward picked up a hamstring injury during the Africa Cup of Nations in January and then suffered another muscle problem when he returned for Liverpool last month.
He hasn’t played in the Premier League since the win at Brentford on 17 February, but did come off the bench against Sparta Prague on Thursday.
Liverpool fans hoped he may be fit enough to start in the huge clash with City on Sunday but Klopp confirmed that was never really an option and he will call upon him off the bench when needed.
‘No not at all, we didn’t even think about him starting the game,’ the Liverpool boss told Sky Sports.
‘I think we can make a lot of things in life and we should learn from them. Not that Mo was the last time back too early, he was unlucky that he got a little setback, but we talk about that with Mo as well.
‘It was not his idea or my idea to start him today, it will be an intense game, we can bring him on which is super cool but it was not a big decision.’
Ibrahima Konate has not even made the bench for Liverpool against the champions, missing out after being taking off during the second half on Thursday.
Jarell Quansah will partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back as a result, with Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez at full-back. Trent Alexander-Arnold remains out injured, while Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas are on the bench.
Liverpool starting XI: Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Gomez. Endo, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Diaz, Nunez, Elliott.
Substitutes: Adrian, Robertson, Tsimikas, Salah, Gakpo, McConnell, Clark, Nallo, Koumas.
Manchester City starting XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Akanji, Ake, Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Foden, Haaland, Alvarez.
Substitutes: Ortega, Dias, Kovacic, Doku, Gomez, Gvardiol, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis.
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