Liverpool have moved to ease fears over Mohamed Salah's fitness, confirming the Egypt forward suffered only a minor muscle injury during Saturday's match against Crystal Palace and is expected to return before the season ends.

Salah was withdrawn in the second half at Anfield, sparking widespread concern that the 33-year-old had made his final appearance for the club. He is set to leave Liverpool at the end of the campaign after announcing last month that his nine-year stay at Anfield will conclude this summer.

The club issued a statement on Wednesday describing the problem as a "minor muscle injury" and said it is "anticipated" that Salah will recover in time to play again before departing. Liverpool's last fixture of the season is a home game against Brentford on 24 May.

Farewell tour still on

The scenes at full-time against Crystal Palace had an air of finality about them — Salah took his time to acknowledge the Anfield crowd as he left the pitch, as though unsure he would get another opportunity to do so. Wednesday's update suggests he will.

A return for Sunday's trip to Manchester United at Old Trafford looks highly unlikely given the timeline, but Liverpool still have three matches remaining: Chelsea at Anfield on 9 May, a visit to Aston Villa on 17 May, and the Brentford finale on 24 May.

World Cup captaincy unaffected

The positive prognosis also keeps Salah on course to captain Egypt at this summer's World Cup, an assignment that would have been thrown into doubt had the injury proved more serious.

A Liverpool legend bows out

Salah arrived at Liverpool in 2017 and has since assembled one of the most decorated individual CVs in the club's history. His haul of 257 goals in 435 appearances places him third on the all-time scoring list, behind only Roger Hunt (285) and Ian Rush (346).

During his time at Anfield, Salah has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the FA Cup, two EFL Cups, and the Community Shield — a collection that cements his legacy as one of the club's greatest players.