Liverpool Assistant Coach Praises Forwards’ Performance in Salah’s Absence
Liverpool’s assistant coach, Pepijn Lijnders, has commended the impact of the team’s forwards in the absence of Mohamed Salah. During the recent match against Bournemouth, both Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez scored braces, contributing to Liverpool’s victory. Lijnders expressed his admiration for the attacking options available to the squad.
Lijnders addressed the media ahead of Liverpool’s League Cup semi-final clash with Fulham and discussed the squad’s ability to cope without Salah. The Egyptian winger is currently nursing a hamstring injury sustained at the Africa Cup of Nations and is expected to be out for several weeks.
The assistant coach highlighted Jota’s recent performances, stating that when he is in an aggressive mood, he becomes a dangerous player. Lijnders emphasized the importance of having a squad where multiple players can step up and contribute in different moments. He compared it to the previous trio of Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane, where each player would excel when another was not performing well.
Lijnders also praised Nunez for the chaos he brings to the pitch and suggested that a new song could be created in his honor. He described Nunez as a young, hungry player who can create opportunities for the team. The assistant coach expressed his happiness with Nunez’s contribution and predicted further improvement from him.
Despite concerns about losing Salah, Liverpool has not struggled for goals in his absence. The team has scored eight goals in the three games without him. Lijnders and the coaching staff hope that this trend continues during the upcoming busy period. Salah is unlikely to return for at least another three weeks, depending on his recovery and Egypt’s progress at AFCON.
Overall, Lijnders’ comments reflect the confidence and optimism within the Liverpool camp regarding their attacking options and their ability to perform without Salah.