Virgil van Dijk, Salah Set To Feature Against Huddersfield Town

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are expected to be available for selection for Liverpool’s trip to Huddersfield Town on Saturday, sources have said.

Both players withdrew from their national teams over the international break amid fitness concerns.

Salah was forced off late in Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with Swaziland on Saturday because of a groin issue and missed the return fixture three days later.

Van Dijk, meanwhile, has been battling broken ribs for several weeks, according to Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman, and sat out Tuesday’s friendly with Belgium.

The pair returned to Melwood, where their fitness was assessed by the club’s medical staff, and look set to be fit to feature against Huddersfield, who sit 18th in the Premier League table.

While Jurgen Klopp is expected to be able to call upon two of his most important players on the weekend, doubts remain over the fitness of Sadio Mane and Naby Keita.

Keita injured his hamstring while playing on an artificial surface with Guinea on Tuesday, while Mane has had surgery on the fractured thumb he suffered when away with Senegal.

Huddersfield boss David Wagner, however, believes Klopp, an extremely close friend of his and teammate at Mainz in their playing days, may be overplaying Liverpool’s injury problems.

“I have known Jurgen long enough, I know he loves to use smokescreens,” Wagner told a news conference on Thursday. “I expect that most of his players will be available.

“I have known him long enough and he likes to moan after the international break.”

Liverpool have made a strong start to the campaign with 20 points from eight matches to sit third in the table as one of three unbeaten sides.

Huddersfield’s form is a stark contrast as they seek a first win to potentially climb out of the relegation zone.