Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has given Anfield fans a glimmer of hope, suggesting Mohamed Salah’s legendary career on Merseyside may not have ended prematurely.
The Egyptian superstar was forced off in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace with a suspected hamstring injury, sparking fears he may have played his final game for the club before his confirmed departure this summer.
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In the 59th minute, as Salah slowly walked towards the tunnel, the atmosphere at Anfield was filled with a somber atmosphere of gratitude, with many fearing the worst.
Egypt’s assistant coach also gave a worrying update, citing a hamstring injury that will keep him out for four weeks.
However, Van Dijk remains optimistic that the ‘King of Egypt’ could still feature in the final week of the season.
Virgil van Dijk is optimistic about Mohamed Salah’s early return
Van Dijk struck a defiant but cautious tone regarding his team-mate’s recovery.
While the club awaits the official scan results, the captain stressed Salah’s professional desire to return.
Van Dijk said (quoted by The Independent): “A medical assessment will be carried out and that will decide what the matter will be. I know he is doing everything he can to get back on the pitch as soon as possible.”
“When you get injured at this stage of the season, especially in his situation with only two home games left, you’re going to have a lot of different emotions going through your head when you leave the game.
“The reality is he has to go and get tested. I hope it won’t last long, but I don’t know at the moment. He might come back next week, he might not. I don’t know. Either way, he’ll get sent off.”
“I don’t think it matters at this point. We shouldn’t think too far ahead. Knowing Mo, he’ll heal quickly if we have the right people around him. Let’s wait and see.”
Salah’s perfect injury history
Part of the optimism about a possible return stems from Salah’s extraordinary physical resilience.
Throughout his nine-year spell at Liverpool, the 33-year-old has rarely been out for long periods of time and has maintained a fitness record that is virtually unrivaled in the Premier League.
Since joining in 2017, Salah has been a model of consistency, scoring 257 goals in 440 appearances over eight years, missing just eight games.
His ability to avoid long layoffs has been a key part of Liverpool’s success under Jurgen Klopp and current manager Arne Slott.
If there’s anyone who can ignore the normal four-week recovery timeline for a torn hamstring, it’s a man who has spent nearly a decade leading the way with ironclad durability.
Supporters will now wait anxiously to see if his resilience will allow him to dance his last dance at Anfield.
