Liverpool will have to cope without Mohamed Salah against Arsenal in the FA Cup (Picture: Liverpool FC)
Jurgen Klopp is confident Liverpool have the tools available to cope without Mohamed Salah, but admits his side will have to find a different way of playing.
The ‘Egyptian King’ is enjoying another prolific campaign and recently scored his 200th goal for the club in last month’s victory against Crystal Palace.
Overall, Salah has scored 18 times in all competitions and has powered his side to the top of the Premier League table.
The 31-year-old scored twice in a devastating performance in the 4-2 win over Newcastle on Monday but will now miss up to eight games while he is on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS CUP FIXTURES
Group stage: January 13 to January 24
Round-of-16: January 27 to January 30
Quarter-finals: February 2 and February 3
Semi-finals: February 7
Third-place playoff: February 10
Final: February 11
GAMES MOHAMED SALAH COULD MISS FOR LIVERPOOL
Arsenal (A) FA Cup – January 7
Fulham (H) Carabao Cup – January 10
Bournemouth (A) Premier League – January 21
Fulham (A) Carabao Cup – January 24
Potential FA Cup fourth-round tie – January 27
Chelsea (H) Premier League – January 31
Arsenal (A) Premier League – February 4
Burnley (H) Premier League – February 10
Liverpool boast numerous attacking options and arguably possess the most versatile attack in the top flight, but Klopp insists it would be folly to ask any of the players likely to deputise to attempt to imitate Salah’s style of play.
‘Now we have to deal with it and will deal with it,’ said Klopp at his pre-match press conference.
‘Of course if you see the recent games and think ‘OK that looks a bit strange’. I am pretty positive we will find a way and we have to show it on the pitch.
‘I think we played against West Ham without Mo and Harvey Elliott on that side. We all know we have different offensive options who can all play that wing in a different way.
‘Not Harvey, not anyone who plays on that wing should play Like Mo, it’s not possible. We just have to find another way and use the boys to their skills and that’s the idea behind it.
‘Do you want to play without Mo? No. But if you have to then in the past we didn’t have to do it that often but we have always found a way to get through this period.
‘I’m pretty sure we will find a way but of course we play Arsenal and you can lose there with Mo Salah. In the moment we have to winthe game so we should more think about that.’
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