Liverpool FC

Liverpool duo out of Southampton trip

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are out of Liverpool’s game at Southampton.

Both players were withdrawn during last weekend’s FA Cup final victory over Chelsea, with Salah appearing to suffer a groin problem during the first half.

The Egypt international revealed immediately after the game that he would be fit for the Champions League final showdown with Real Madrid on May 28.

But Jurgen Klopp revealed the pair are not available for the trip to the South Coast, where a win would move the Reds to within a point of Manchester City.

He said: “Will they be involved tomorrow? No.

“Virg definitely not, but that was pretty much clear before the game already.

He played really a lot and then [playing] Saturday, Tuesday again, it was clear [he would be out].

“They are both okay so the target for both would be that they could be involved again on the weekend.

“[If they are] properly involved or on the bench or whatever a few minutes or start, I don’t know. We will see because that would then be perfect for the game.

“But if not, then we take each day afterwards. I have no doubt about the final. Pretty realistic about the Wolves game.”

The Liverpool manager also addressed claims that he had been in the running to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe as a free agent this summer.

Mbappe is expected to join Madrid once his current deal at the Parc des Princes expires but reports suggested the Anfield club had been in contention.

“Of course we are interested in Kylian Mbappe – we are not blind,” added Klopp.

“Nothing to say about that (the reports) but between Kylian and Liverpool, it’s all fine. We like him and if you don’t like him you have to question yourself.

“But no, we cannot be part of these battles. There must be other clubs involved, but that’s fine. He’s still a great player.”