Ben Doak has just seven games to prove Liverpool don’t need to sign Mohamed Salah replacement
Liverpool might have kept hold of Mohamed Salah this summer despite big-money interest from Saudi Arabia, but they will still have to make do without his services this season.
Salah is set to captain Egypt at this winter’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, which will take place between January 13 and February 11. Should the Pharaohs reach the final, as they did in the 2021 edition of the tournament (staged in 2022), the 31-year-old could miss at least five matches, with four coming in the Premier League.
Throw in potential progression in the FA Cup and League Cup and such a total rises to eight games, with the possibility of replays in the former even ruling Salah out of a potential 10 outings. But regardless of domestic cup commitments, Liverpool face the possibility of the forward being absent for their blockbuster Premier League double-header at home Chelsea and away at Arsenal on January 31 and February 3 respectively.
Of course, this isn’t the first time the Reds have been without the services of their African contingent under Jurgen Klopp’s watch. Sadio Mane would miss seven matches during the 2016/17 season, and be absent from the starting XI for an eighth, when Senegal lost in the quarter-finals.
Jadon Sancho signed for wrong club and Jurgen Klopp Liverpool comments offer painful reminder
Alexis Mac Allister delivers masterclass but Darwin Nunez hands Liverpool a concern
Meanwhile, Mane would miss seven matches and Salah six, being utilised only as a substitute in a seventh when returning, during the 2021/22 season because of their international commitments as Senegal beat Egypt on penalties in the final. Naby Keita would also miss five matches as Guinea suffered a round-of-16 exit.
In the past, Klopp has
Read on liverpoolecho.co.uk
