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Klopp has no worries over Salah fitness

Mohamed Salah has some niggling ankle issues
Mohamed Salah has some niggling ankle issues

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists he has no concerns about Mohamed Salah's fitness ahead of their Champions League clash with Napoli.

Salah was an unused substitute in the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday after missing training with an ankle problem.

"Mo Salah looks really good," Klopp said. "I'm not worried about it."

Klopp also provided an update on the fitness of defender Joel Matip, who has been sidelined with a knee injury, saying: "Joel is improving but is some time away. There will be a scan this week and then we will see how it is."

Victory over Carlo Ancelotti's side will ensure Liverpool finish top of Group E with a game to spare and could rest players during a hectic period of 14 games in 43 days but Klopp insists his team cannot afford to look past this match.

"The biggest mistake we could make is that we have won it already and what would happen if we win it," Klopp added.

"These things are not in our mind. Of course we try to win the game, it would be massive for us after the start we had. Napoli are a dangerous opponent.

"There are two weeks between tomorrow night and the Salzburg game (final match of the group) and we have three games in between. Why should I think about the Salzburg game now?"

Reds defender Andrew Robertson, meanwhile, has played down concerns over an ankle issue, insisting he can manage his fitness.

"It's been better, just a bit stiff after matches and something I can manage with. I feel fresh and hopefully that continues," Robertson said.

"I get paid to play games and train and we're all the same, we don't want to miss training sessions and games. It's all about managing. We all want to play games but sometimes it's not possible and someone has to step in and tell you otherwise.

"Sitting up in the stands is no good for me and my heart."

Liverpool's busy schedule includes two matches in 24 hours on different continents because of their involvement in the Carabao Cup and Club World Cup.

Should they progress through the League Cup quarter-final tie at Aston Villa in December they would then face a two-legged semi-final, meaning potentially another seven matches in a month.

However, Robertson put it all into perspective by saying: "If you were to ask me would I would swap my Champions League winner's medal for less fixtures, absolutely not?

"When we look at it, it is sort of a compliment. The reason we have got all these fronts is because we have been successful.

"It is a credit to us and it's because of our success and that is something we have to take the positives from.

"Of course playing two games in 24 hours is not ideal and however the manager is going to deal with that is fine.

"But we have got two big competitions and hopefully in the two squads we put out both of them will be strong enough to try to see us through.

"If not then it is a consequence of not being able to fit enough games in but we believe any team that goes out is good enough to win the games and that's what we've got to do."

Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti

Meanwhile, Klopp believes a Champions League night at Anfield may actually come as a relief to Napoli opponents dealing with significant internal strife.

Reports claim the Serie A club's president Aurelio De Laurentiis is to fine every player 25 per cent of their monthly salary after they refused to attend a squad training retreat earlier this month.

Fans have turned their anger on the players and the club have imposed a media ban on the squad and manager Ancelotti from speaking about the turmoil, leading to Italian media labelling the situation "civil war".

But Klopp remains wary of a side which is the only one to have beaten his team twice in the last year, even if Napoli have not won in their last six matches.

"I expect them really strong for different reasons," said Klopp. "Reason number one is they are a sensationally good football team. Yes, they did not have the results in the last couple of weeks.

"I don't know the reasons but now they are not in Italy, they are in Liverpool, it is a different competition and they may feel a relief they can play completely free.

"What we expect is it will make them stronger. I have no proper idea about what happened but if I was part of the team as a player I would try and bring the group together.

"Carlo is the most experienced manager in world football and is used to dealing with difficult situations so he will make the best of it 100 per cent.

"It is a really difficult game for us and all the things around will not have influence on it. We can focus on football, they can focus on football."

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