Jurgen Klopp remains confident that Liverpool can sustain their push for the Premier League title, despite the imminent absence of Mohamed Salah due to African Cup of Nations duty.
Salah is set to leave for Egypt's campaign at the African Cup of Nations following Liverpool's Premier League clash with Newcastle on Monday. Currently leading the league, Liverpool faces challenges in both the FA Cup third round against Arsenal and the League Cup semi-finals against Fulham in January, making Salah's absence particularly challenging.
As Liverpool's top scorer with 16 goals this season, Salah's potential month-long absence in the Ivory Coast leaves Klopp with a significant gap to fill.
"It is not the first time; it is really at least a very average situation that you lose your goalscorer, but we had it even worse in the past when Sadio (Mane) and Mo left," Klopp told reporters on Friday. "We came somehow through it, and traditionally one of them went pretty far in the tournament, which made it worse."
Klopp will also be without Japan midfielder Wataru Endo, who will be participating in the Asia Cup simultaneously with Salah's departure.
"We knew the Africa Cup of Nations would appear from time to time, and Mo has to go, and we have Endo as a participant in the Asia Cup as well, so it is like it is. We have to deal with it, and we will," Klopp said. "Each long-term plan I could have had depends massively on who is available. We would have solutions today; I hope we have that after the Newcastle game as well."
The return of Diogo Jota, who scored on his comeback against Burnley on Boxing Day after a month out injured, is a welcome boost. Jota's versatility, along with that of Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott, provides Klopp with options to navigate Salah's absence.
"The return of each of the boys is super-important, but Diogo especially. Everybody was quite positive about our five options, but I don't think we had them that often, to be honest," Klopp said. "Especially with the number of games we play, it is so important these boys can rotate, and now with Mo leaving and Endo leaving, we need everyone to get back."
However, Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson's recovery from a dislocated shoulder is now expected to keep him out for the entire month of January. The Scotland captain, sidelined since October, was initially anticipated to return next month.
"Robbo still needs more range in his shoulder. Obviously, it was a big surgery, still not even close to team training or whatever," Klopp explained.
