Jurgen Klopp: No Long-Term Plans for Mohamed Salah’s Absence
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he has not made any long-term plans for Mohamed Salah’s upcoming absence due to the Africa Cup of Nations. Salah will participate in Liverpool’s match against Newcastle on New Year’s Day before joining the Egyptian national team for the tournament in the Ivory Coast. This could potentially leave Liverpool without their top goalscorer for up to eight games.
Klopp, however, is cautious about making plans for Salah’s replacement, considering the frequency of injuries his team has faced this season. He believes that any long-term plan would depend on the availability of other players, which is uncertain at this point. Klopp stated, “Each long-term plan I could have had depends massively on who is available, so why should I think in October who I can use when Mo is away when I have no clue who is available?”
The Liverpool manager remains hopeful that they will find solutions after the Newcastle game. He pointed out that losing a goalscorer is not a new situation for the team and they have managed to overcome it in the past. Klopp mentioned previous instances when both Salah and Sadio Mane were absent due to international tournaments, making the situation even more challenging. However, he believes that they will get through this period and emphasized that they were aware of the Africa Cup of Nations and Salah’s participation.
The Africa Cup of Nations will take place from January 13 to February 11, during which Salah is guaranteed to miss four matches due to the group stages. Klopp and Liverpool will need to find suitable replacements for their star player during this crucial period.