Liverpool has lost striker Mohamed Salah ahead of the crunch semi-final second leg Champions League clash with Barcelona.
The Egyptian star was stretchered off during Liverpool’s clash with Newcastle after a heavy collision with opposition goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
He went down after and received lengthy treatment on the pitch before eventually leaving the field on a stretcher.
Salah was applauded by all sides of St James’ Park following the injury, which came with 20 minutes left of a pulsating game against Rafael Benitez’s side, Liverpool Echo reported.
The winger had earlier given Liverpool a 2-1 lead in the game with a clever, right-foot finish. Belgian striker Divock Origi was his replacement.
Salah is now likely to be a huge doubt for Tuesday’s meeting with Barcelona at Anfield as the coach Jürgen Klopp said the club would await the doctor’s verdict.
Speaking post-match, Klopp said: “What I heard, he got the hip of the goalie on his head.
“He was then on the ground and the doc had to make a decision ‘on the pitch or off the pitch’, and the decision was off the pitch. We accept that of course.
“When he came in he was sitting in the dressing room watching the game on television. So he was then fine, but of course we have to wait. He got a proper knock, obviously, in that situation.”
The injury is another huge blow for Liverpool after Roberto Firmino was ruled out of both the trip to the North East and the Champions League semi-final second leg against Barca.