Liverpool handed ‘huge’ Salah boost that could decide the ‘title’ – Whelan
Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane’s availability against Chelsea will be a “huge boost” for Liverpool, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will be buoyed by the news going into the “title-deciding” game on Sunday.
Salah and Mane will be available for the table-topping clash after FIFA deputy secretary general Mattias Grafstrom (per AP News) confirmed Liverpool would be allowed to delay the duo’s release for the African Cup of Nations.
Previously, clubs would have had to release their players on 27 December ahead of the tournament kicking off on 9 January.
Whelan raised question marks about the hosting of the tournament during the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s a huge boost for Liverpool,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“When you take on teams like Chelsea, second against third, in a massive title-deciding game – the last thing you want is players unavailable.
“That’s a game where you want to see the best players competing at the top of their game in a high-stakes match.
“It’s a difficult one to get your head round that these players have got to go off to a different continent right now, especially in these trying times when we’re trying to keep people safe, but it’s tradition.
“It’s very difficult to understand why it hasn’t been put on hold. However, it will be a massive boost to Jurgen Klopp to have the likes of Salah and Mane available.”
Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita is also affected by the FIFA U-turn after his Guinea call-up.
The African Cup of Nations tournament runs until 6 February.
In other news, Liverpool tipped to sign the “next Salah” after newspaper update.