Liverpool will soon have to take care of Mohamed Salah problem, but manager Jurgen Klopp is still unsure how big the impact will be.
Liverpool secured this season’s title against Manchester City last weekend.
It wasn’t a good performance for Jurgen Klopp’s side, but it was a good performance for Manchester City, currently the best team in the world, and showed they can challenge for top honours.
The current mood at the club is surprisingly upbeat. Klopp and his players have exceeded expectations in a season that has seen them qualify for the Champions League. The Reds have booked a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie with West Ham next month and will be looking for a chance to win elsewhere after winning three of their opening four Europa League games.
A win over LASK at Anfield could book a place in the last 16 on Thursday if Toulouse fail to beat Union SG. But Klopp will have to keep an eye on this issue as the days and weeks go by.
In January, Mohamed Salah, perhaps the team’s most important player, will lead Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations. The group stage begins in Côte d’Ivoire on January 13 and continues until January 24. The 16th period starts 3 days later and continues up to 30 days.
The quarter-finals will take place on February 2nd and 3rd, followed by the 7th and 3rd place match, two semi-finals and the final on the 10th and 11th. Egypt reached the final of the previous tournament, losing to Senegal, but did not finish on top this time.
Senegal, Algeria, Cameroon, hosts Ivory Coast and World Cup semi-finalist Morocco are all notable countries. But Salah has a chance.The opponent’s last Premier League game before being recalled will be against Newcastle on New Year’s Day and it is unclear whether he will be available for next weekend’s FA Cup third round.
If Liverpool get a comfortable draw, they can rest and give their best for the tournament.If Liverpool beat West Ham to progress to the semi-finals of the League Cup, Salah will miss the first leg scheduled for January 9-10. Egypt are not due to start their campaign until January 14, but want to train together first.
Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah is set to travel to the AFCON this winter.Klopp will be delighted that the winter break resumes next weekend, allowing all players to rest and ease the impact of Salah’s absence. But he knows the 31-year-old will miss the trip to Bournemouth on January 21 and the second semi-final that week.
Depending on Egypt’s progress and Liverpool’s fortunes, the club will be without him for the FA Cup fourth round (weekend of January 27) and Premier League games against Chelsea (January 31), title rivals Arsenal (3 February) and Burnley. to be possible.
(February 10). If Liverpool finish second in their Europa League group, which is unlikely but possible, they will qualify for the play-offs on February 15. If Egypt reach the final, next weekend’s trip to Brentford looks Salah’s most likely chance to return.
Salah is only guaranteed to miss one game this season, but it could theoretically be 12 if FA Cup replays are factored in. The uncertainty is worrying. Liverpool will surely suffer without his goalscoring talent. He has scored 12 goals in 18 games so far this season.
That’s four goals more than anyone else on the team. But his value as a creator is also worth noting.
According to The Analyst on November 11, only Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes (25.63) has provided assists with a higher team xG percentage than Salah (20.96).
This is certainly not the only obstacle for Klopp and company. They need to find direction if they want to be in the title race this season. But it already seems to be one of the biggest.
