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Klopp gives Salah wedding attendance verdict before COVID-19 case

Jurgen Klopp has addressed the COVID-19 infection of Mo Salah COVID-19 for the first time since t...



Klopp gives Salah wedding atte...
Soccer

Klopp gives Salah wedding attendance verdict before COVID-19 case

Jurgen Klopp has addressed the COVID-19 infection of Mo Salah COVID-19 for the first time since the Egyptian forward was diagnosed. 

The 28-year old produced a positive test result last Friday, while on international duty.

Salah's positive case came days after he was captured celebrating his brother Nasr's wedding without a mask, and with no social distancing in evidence.

The Egypt international is expected to return to Merseyside on Friday, after a private jet was arranged to fly him out of his native country.

Salah's is just the latest COVID-19 case with which Klopp has had to deal this season. Sadio Mane, Thiago Alcantara and Xherdan Shaqiri have all tested positive. In Shaqiri's case, it was later confirmed to be a false positive.

Salah will miss Sunday's Premier League visit of Leicester City to Anfield, and likely the midweek game with Atalanta as well.

"Mo is probably back today, I've heard, Klopp told his pre-match press conference, "We are in close contact with him all the time.

"It's only when you have a negative test the process really starts. He feels well, no symptoms."

Klopp refused to criticise Salah's appearance at his brother's wedding, but did reveal the personal sacrifices he had to make in the face of the pandemic.

"There is absolutely nothing to say in the public about the things I talk to my players about," he said.

"What I can tell you I was in the summer in Germany, a friend moved his birthday party only because of me. Fifty people attended there and I decided at the last minute not to go – and that was only a birthday party and it was allowed in Germany.

"It was outside but I didn't go. That is only one situation.

"In other situations there is more social pressure on you and a brother's wedding is a very special moment."

Salah joins a lengthy list of personnel unavailable for the clash with Brendan Rodgers' side on Sunday evening.

Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are long-term absentees, while captain Jordan Henderson picked up a knock with England.

However, both Fabinho and Thiago could find themselves in contention.

"We will see, [but] Hendo not and Trent [Alexander-Arnold] not, that’s clear. All the rest we will see.

“They are in a good way, Ox [is] in a good way. They are all closer but we will see if it is close enough for the weekend."

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Coronavirus Covid-19 Egypt Fabinho Jordan Henderson Jurgen Klopp Klopp Liverpool Mo Salah Mohamed Salah Salah Thiago Thiago Alcantara