05 January 2024 , 10:32
1266
0
Jurgen Klopp admits it is "not possible" for Liverpool to play in the same style as Mohamed Salah with the Egyptian now absent.
The forward, who scored twice in a dominant display over Newcastle on New Year's Day, will attempt to achieve Africa Cup of Nations glory with his country, but it leaves the Reds without their most prolific goalscorer and main attacking threat.
Salah has been a stalwart in Liverpool's front three since arriving in 2017 and his influence on matches make him hard to replace. So much so that Klopp concedes, despite the wealth of attacking talent available to him, that whoever replaces Salah on the right, potentially Harvey Elliott, will not be able to replicate the Egyptian.
He said: "I think we played against West Ham with Harvey there and we have different defensive options. Other players can play on the wing but maybe not like Mo, it's not possible. We use the boys and their skills and that is the idea behind it. Do we want to play without Mo? No.
"But we will find a way. Of course we play Arsenal and we can lose with Mo Salah - but at the moment we have a chance to win the game, so we think about that."
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
An FA Cup tie against the Gunners is Liverpool's first assignment without Salah, whom the Reds have coped without before during AFCON. The games come thick and fast for Klopp who is looking to keep the Merseysiders fighting on four fronts with a Carabao Cup semi-final just around the corner.
Mo Salah scored twice for Liverpool in their recent win over Newcastle (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)The likes of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota ensure that Liverpool will not lack punch in the final third, but neither of the aforementioned quartet have proved to be as potent in front of goal.
Salah remained confident however that his team would more than cope in his absence: "We believe too much, we have such good talents they just need to work hard nothing else. We need to express ourselves, play football and if they manage to do that, working hard as I see it in the gym, after training, and in the games they show it a lot, that's what makes us winning."