Mo Salah: Pundit fumes at what he’s heard fans saying about Liverpool star this week
Frank McAvennie insists he’s “not having” suggestions Mo Salah is not ready to play for Liverpool this week.
The former West Ham hitman, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insists the attacker is ready to face Leicester on Thursday (10 February) after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah played 120 minutes but did not take a penalty as Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane fired Senegal to a shoot-out victory over Egypt in the AFCON on Sunday (6 February).
The winger returned to Liverpool training on Tuesday (9 February), while Mane remains in his home country as The Lions of Teranga celebrate a maiden AFCON triumph.
McAvennie insists Salah will have been treated like royalty on his return journey to Liverpool, meaning he will be free of jet lag.
“If he says he’s ready, he’s ready,” McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“I’m not having this thing about people saying players are not being able to play these games because of travel or whatever.
“Salah will have had a massive seat on an aeroplane and will have been treated like royalty.
“Jet lag is nothing to these players. Some of the boys at Celtic have been flying between Australia and Japan to Glasgow.
“Africa isn’t that far away so I’m sure Salah is more than ready to play whenever he wants to.
“He’s another level of player. I expect he will play.”
Liverpool beat Cardiff 3-1 in the FA Cup on Sunday (6 February).
After the Leicester game, they travel to Burnley on 13 February.
In other news, pundit predicts Liverpool ‘worried’ about Barcelona and Real Madrid after transfer update.