Mohamed Salah concerns eased as Liverpool prepare for January exit

Liverpool supporters have been trying to keep their feet on the ground in the wake of an impressive first half of the campaign

But those with their head in the sand regards one particular subject will now have to face the reality. Following Monday's Premier League visit of Newcastle United, the Reds face the prospect of being without Mohamed Salah for up to six weeks during a pivotal part of the season.

And the imminent departure of the winger to represent Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations - a tournament that starts on January 13 with the final on February 11 - has prompted questions over who will score the goals to keep Liverpool challenging on four fronts by the time Salah returns.

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Certainly, with 16 goals in all competitions, the 31-year-old remains the most prolific member of the Reds squad, having recently surpassed 200 goals for the club and within one of the 150 mark in the Premier League alone.

In Liverpool's last 10 games, they have netted 22 times. Salah has been the top scorer in that period, with four, one ahead of Cody Gakpo. But perhaps most intriguingly is the Reds have had 13 different goalscorers in that time, as well as an own goal from Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno. And the total number of players to have bagged this campaign is 15, already one more than the whole of the previous season.

They haven't been completely reliant on Salah's goals. However, his overall game is what Liverpool will miss most. In that same 10-game period, only Trent Alexander-Arnold with five has managed more than Salah's four assists. And that total