Van Dijk hopeful Salah fit for Liverpool farewell after hamstring

Salah hamstring – Virgil van Dijk says Mohamed Salah will be assessed after a hamstring injury, and he hopes the forward can still return in Liverpool’s final fixtures.
Mohamed Salah’s injury has sent a familiar wave of uncertainty through Liverpool’s final stretch, but Virgil van Dijk is trying to keep the mood grounded and hopeful.
According to Van Dijk. Salah will undergo a scan after coming off during Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday with a hamstring problem.. The Liverpool captain believes the forward is doing “everything in his power” to be back as soon as possible. even as head coach Arne Slot has not ruled out the possibility that the timeline could stretch beyond the end of the season.
The key detail is that Salah’s return depends on what the medical assessment reveals.. Van Dijk’s message is clear: there will be a scan. then a proper evaluation. and only then will Liverpool know how close—if at all—he can get to playing again before the campaign finishes.. That uncertainty is difficult. especially at this point in the year. when every remaining match carries extra weight for squads already balancing fitness and schedule.
Liverpool’s remaining games underline why the next few days matter.. The Reds have four fixtures left, beginning with a trip to Old Trafford on Sunday.. After that, they face Aston Villa away, then host Chelsea on 9 May and Brentford on 24 May.. For Salah. who had appeared set to reach what many expected would be a farewell moment at Anfield. the injury shifts the narrative from “final chapter” to “race against recovery.”
There’s also a human layer to what Van Dijk is describing.. Coming off injured late in the season—particularly for someone in the middle of a highly emotional transition—creates competing thoughts: loyalty to the team. worry about long-term impact. and the nagging question of whether there is enough time left to return.. Van Dijk acknowledged that emotional mix himself. framing the moment as part relief. part frustration. and part hope that the body responds better than feared.
From a football standpoint, the timing is especially sensitive.. Hamstring injuries can vary widely in severity. and even when athletes “feel better. ” the real test is how they respond to high-intensity work and match demands.. That’s why the scan is the gatekeeper here.. Without knowing the extent of the damage. Liverpool cannot safely plan around Salah’s availability—nor can they take risks with a player whose best moments often depend on explosive acceleration.
Even so, Van Dijk’s optimism carries weight because it’s grounded in Salah’s mindset.. Liverpool’s captain pointed to the idea that Salah is a quick healer. supported by the right people around him. and suggested that the medical team will guide the next steps.. In other words. the plan is not fantasy—it’s procedure: assess. evaluate. and then see what the recovery window allows.
The broader question now is how Liverpool will treat the farewell storyline if Salah cannot play again.. Van Dijk believes it will still happen in some form.. Salah’s contribution to the club is too significant to be reduced to one missed match.. With 257 goals across 440 appearances. he is the third-highest scorer in Liverpool’s history. and his honours—Champions League glory in 2019. two Premier League titles. and three PFA Player of the Year awards—define a legacy that transcends availability.
That legacy is also part of the dressing-room psychology.. Players tend to rally around a shared sense of meaning during milestones. and Salah’s status makes his possible absence feel bigger than one injury.. Even if the forward does not return to the pitch this season. Liverpool’s fans and squad will still look for ways to honour what he already delivered.