Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he won't be taking "any risks" with his star player in the final game of the season, despite Mohamed Salah being the front runner for the Premier League's Golden Boot award. The Egyptian came off in Liverpool's FA Cup final win after just 33 minutes, with a groin issue.
Ahead of his side's 2-1 Southampton victory on Tuesday, Klopp gave an update on the injuries to Salah and Virgil van Dijk. "Virgil is definitely not [fit] but that was pretty much clear before the game already that we felt that this is the game to leave him out," the Liverpool boss explained.
"He has played a lot and at the moment with it being Saturday-Tuesday again, it was clear that they're both OK. So the target for both is that they can both be involved at the weekend [against Wolves], properly involved on the bench or starting or whatever."
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Salah is currently on 22 league goals this season and Son Heung-min is just behind him with 21. With the Egyptian left out of the matchday squad against the Saints, it was a good chance for Son to add to his goal tally, when Tottenham played Burnley.
However, it was only a narrow victory, with Harry Kane's penalty separating the two sides and it was a day where the South Korean didn't have so much success in front of goal. So it means the race for the Golden Boot goes down to the final day of the season, adding to the list of deciders on Sunday.
Spurs need just one point against Norwich to secure Champions League football for next season. Liverpool sit a point behind current league leaders Man City, so need Pep Guardiola's side to drop points for them to have any chance of claiming the title.
Of course, both sides want to focus on helping their team finish in the best possible position, with Son admitting he would prefer his side to finish in the top four and miss out on the Golden Boot. "Obviously it’s a good thing that you are racing," the 29-year-old admitted last week.
"But I have said a few times that it is important to finish in the top four [more] than anything else."
However, Son could have the best of both worlds and see his Golden Boot chances increase if Salah doesn't play on Sunday. In Klopp's pre match press conference on Sunday, he still wasn't sure about the Egyptian's return.
"Looks all good. What we do with them [the three injured players] for the weekend, I have no idea," the 54-year-old admitted, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
"We actually understand 100% the goalscoring battle with Son Heung-min, but there's no chance we take any risk. Mo doesn't want to take any risks, I've no doubt about that.
"It looks good and the boys have made steps, but we will see. My preferred solution is they would play at the weekend for rhythm reasons, or at least be on the bench so we could bring them on, but if not then we take it from there. I cannot say 100%," Klopp added.
Tottenham will have to wait until Sunday to find out whether Salah will make an appearance at Anfield, but either way, Son will need to bag at least a goal to equal the Egyptian and share the award.
