Mohamed Salah will miss the second leg of Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final with Barcelona, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed.
The Reds welcome LaLiga champions Barca to Anfield on Tuesday knowing they need a miracle in order to progress after a 3-0 defeat in Spain.
And Klopp will not unable to call upon star man Salah or fellow forward Roberto Firmino after both were ruled out of the match.
Salah was left motionless following a sickening collision with goalkeeper Martin Dubravka during Liverpool’s league meeting with Newcastle on Saturday.
Klopp was initially optimistic the Egyptian forward would be available for Tuesday’s game against Barcelona but announced at his pre-match press conference on Monday that he will not be fit enough to feature.
It is a huge blow for the Liverpool boss, who had already confirmed that he would be without Firmino for the visit of the Spanish giants.
Salah’s strike on Saturday evening in the 3-2 defeat of Newcastle was his 26th in all competitions and he is the leading scorer for the Premier League title contenders.
“It’s a concussion so it’s a case of him not even being allowed to play,” Klopp said.
“He feels OK but it’s not good enough from a medical point view, that’s all. He is desperate, but we cannot do it.”
Liverpool have it all to do to turn around the tie against Barca and Klopp knows the loss of two of his most lethal weapons does not help the cause.
“There’s hope and that’s football,” he added.
“We are far away from giving up.
“Two of the world’s best strikers are not available tomorrow – it doesn’t make life any easier but while we have 11 players on the pitch we will try.
“If there is an opportunity to go to the next round, we have to try.
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“It is a long season and there is at least a little chance to make it even longer. If not, these are the last two home games of an incredible season.
“I think we should celebrate that with a good performance on the pitch and a very good performance in the stands. That would be really nice.
“That’s what we want to show, nothing else. We want to celebrate the Champions League campaign, either with a proper finish or another goal.
“If we can do it, wonderful, and if not then fail in the most beautiful way, if you want, with a close result.”
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