Liverpool's record with and without Mohamed Salah

Jurgen Klopp joked that he sent Mohamed Salah off to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a farewell message of: «If I wish you good luck it would be a lie.»

Yet, there must have been a grain of truth behind Klopp's teasing. Salah could miss eight Liverpool games if Egypt replicate their continental performance of two years ago and reach the AFCON final.

At 31, Salah remains startlingly prolific, signing off the first half of his club season with a brace against Newcastle United. Liverpool's perennial top scorer is averaging a goal or assist every 79 top-flight minutes this term.

Here's how Liverpool have fared when Klopp has been forced to do without Salah in the past.

Games

Wins

Draws

Losses

Goals for

Goals against

332

209

69

54

717

331

Across six-and-a-half seasons at Liverpool, Salah has played in more than 90% of all the club's available fixtures. No wonder Klopp frequently hails the workaholic winger as a «machine».

With Salah in the team, Liverpool have won every trophy possible, including the club's first league title in three decades. The unrelenting stream of goals Salah offers has underpinned this historic success.

This season, Salah became just the fifth player in Liverpool's illustrious history to have scored 200 goals on Merseyside.

After his farewell display against Newcastle, Klopp shrugged: «Nobody should be really surprised that Mo can change a game or can improve in a game because he's done it hundreds of times.» 204 times to be precise.

Salah's teammates are also quick to acknowledge his greatness.

«His scoring record is incredible!» Diogo Jota gushed towards the end of last season. «He always finds a way to score. He just finds a way every single time and that is why he is so important.»

Games

Wins

Draws

Losses

Goal