Jurgen Klopp has allayed fears of an injury to Fabinho – as he reiterated why Mohamed Salah is suffering a “tough period” with Liverpool.
Fabinho required lengthy treatment after a clash of heads with Nicolas Otamendi during injury time of the Reds’ 3-1 Champions League quarter-final first leg win at Benfica on Tuesday evening.
Liverpool are in the midst of a busy April, which continues with the top-of-the-table Premier League visit to Manchester City on Sunday.
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But Klopp is confident Fabinho will be available for the trip to the Etihad.
“He's fine,” said the Reds boss. “That is how it looks, it is a cut on the back of his head and there is no hair to hold the blood back. But he should be completely fine.”
Ibrahima Konate and Sadio Mane gave Liverpool a 2-0 first-half lead before Luis Diaz sealed the triumph late on after Darwin Nunez pulled a goal back shortly after the interval.
Salah spurned two chances before the break and was replaced on the hour, the second time in four days the forward has been substituted.
Klopp embraced the Egyptian on the touchline and, when asked about the gesture, the Liverpool manager said: “Completely normal. I did nothing different to what I do usually do. If the game is kind of decided then you are a bit more with the players who come off. When it is more open you can't speak to each player.
“In that situation everyone wants to score. With all the stories around him at the moment it is clear Mo wants to score as well. It is a tough period for Mo and Sadio. Both boys came back from Africa and it is not easy – massive pressure on both shoulders, the managers played their part in putting that pressure on.
“Now it is time for it to settle. It was an important game for Mo and Sadio tonight. One could score, one could not. But everything will be fine.”
Liverpool are now in a strong position to reach a third Champions League semi-final under Klopp, with the return game at Anfield next Wednesday.
And of the scoreline, the Reds boss said: “It doesn't tell the whole story but the most important thing is we came here for a result. I didn't expect the game being any easier but I have to say a big compliment for Benfica, they really fought for their lives – especially after we opened the door a little bit for them.
“It was clear when they scored the crowd would be back and the atmosphere would be good. Good teams tend to use that. We could calm them down immediately a bit with the three changes which helped. They have all had a tough period so that was why it was helpful we could bring fresh legs.”
Klopp added: “The game was slightly more open then we wished but in the end we scored and I think everyone would agree we could have scored more goals and should have.
“The best player of Benfica was the goalie probably, which says a lot. It is half-time, we are two goals up. We were two goals up at half-time today and we knew it was not easy. Now they come to Anfield and we have to use that.”
