Sparta Prague v Liverpool: Europa League team news

Salah has been absent due to injury since the Reds’ Premier League win at Brentford two-and-a-half weeks ago, but is back training with the squad and travelled to Czechia.

Klopp’s men take on the reigning Czech champions in game one of their tie, which kicks off at 5.45pm GMT at Stadion Letna on Thursday.

“He is with us, he trained two days, so full of energy. We have to see,” the manager said of Salah’s status, during his pre-match press conference.

“We want to be careful, we have to be careful, but in the middle of a super-intense period of the season we need everybody and now let’s see how long we can use him. That’s how it is with him and with others as well. Yeah, just good news.”

Dominik Szoboszlai is also again at Klopp’s disposal having made his comeback as a second-half substitute in last weekend’s victory at Nottingham Forest.

The boss said: “It was not an injury where it was painful every day or whatever, he was just not allowed to train properly, how it is with muscle injuries.

“So, that’s the reason why we had to be careful in his rehab, because if you would have asked Dom, he could have trained completely with the team for two or three weeks, but all the medical advice told us no, we have to wait. And that’s what we did.

“Now he is back, played a few minutes, is in the squad. All the rest, we will see.”

Also part of the Reds group in Prague is Mateusz Musialowski, for whom an appearance would be his first at senior level for the club, while Adrian is set to be in a Europa League matchday squad for the first time this term.

Liverpool’s absentees are Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara.

Sparta coach Brian Priske, meanwhile, reported largely positive news on his squad’s fitness when he spoke to the media on Wednesday.

The hosts had to check on the condition of ‘a few’ players – including Filip Panak – following last weekend’s goalless draw with Slavia Prague.

The Czech team’s top scorer, Lukas Haraslin, returned in that game having missed the preceding fixture due to an injury.

Priske has already decided upon his starting XI to face the Reds and communicated the selection to his players.

“The boys are well prepared, they got the line-up today [Wednesday] like we always do,” said Priske. “I think they need to prepare in the best way possible so I always give them the line-up the day before.

“Fitness-wise, we’re looking good, there’s only a few question marks over the last couple of days.

“We had a de-load day yesterday [Tuesday] where the boys didn’t do much, so physically they should be ready for another 90 minutes with a lot of intensity.”

On preparing for a Liverpool side that has been afflicted by a number of injuries in recent weeks, Priske added: “It’s harder to guess who they’re going to line up with in that sense.

“Of course we look at the opponent and we also look at who they’ve got available, but overall we try to create a picture for the players on the style of play, on the philosophy of the team we play against – obviously with some individual qualities here and there.

“But no matter who Liverpool play with, it’s going to be quality; it’s going to be individual quality but it’s also going to be quality from the style of play.

“How Liverpool have been playing this season is fantastic. They score a lot of goals, creating a lot of xG, and that will not change, whether it’s one of the young boys – if we can call them that – who already play in the Premier League.

“[My team] are going to have their hands full for sure, no matter who is playing [for Liverpool].”

Last match

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool (March 2): Kelleher, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gomez, Mac Allister, Clark, Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz.

Sparta Prague 0-0 Slavia Prague (March 3): Vindahl-Jensen, Vitik, Panak, Krejci, Preciado, Kairinen, Laci, Rynes, Birmancevic, Kuchta, Haraslin.