Jurgen Klopp reveals both Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk were determined to play through injuries in FA Cup final
Posted by  badge Boss on May 15, 2022 - 08:31PM
Salah and van Dijk went off with knocks (Picture: Getty)

has revealed both and were determined to stay on the pitch during Liverpool’s final win over Chelsea.

Liverpool clinched their second piece of silverware this season after a penalty shoot-out victory over the Blues at Wembley on Saturday.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were given a major scare in the first-half with Salah going down unchallenged with a groin problem. Van Dijk was replaced before extra-time after suffering a muscle strain.

Both players allayed any major injury fears post-match with Klopp suggesting they will be available for the Champions League final at the end of May.

Recalling conversations with both players after picking up their knocks, the Liverpool boss had to put his foot down and replace Salah, with van Dijk also telling his manager he was fine to continue.

Salah was back out to celebrate with the trophy (Picture: Getty)

‘We had to change Mo early, which was not cool,’ Klopp told a press conference.

‘It was my decision, it was pretty cautionary. Mo said, ‘I feel something, I can carry on.’ I said, ‘No.’ A football game is not a perfect physiotherapist, it means it rarely gets better during a game.

‘Then Virg stands with me and says, ‘I feel something but it’s fine I think.’ We make a decision together, so he stays on but was clear when we didn’t make it in 90 minutes he has to go off.’

Liverpool are still chasing the quadruple and head to Southampton on Tuesday hoping to keep their Premier League title challenge going until the final day of the season next Sunday.

Klopp was unsure whether Salah and van Dijk will be ready for the trip to the south coast but is confident neither injury is serious.

Klopp added: ‘Obviously I spoke to both already after the game, both are really OK. All that we know is it’s not a big thing, we really came through.

‘But the next game is on Tuesday and that’s obviously pretty quick. No, I think they both will be fine, but not… maybe… we have training tomorrow morning, then if they tell me ‘I’m completely fine’ I will be surprised but I will take it and then we have to go from there. So we will see.’

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