Liverpool’s Task: Surviving Salah’s Exit
Liverpool faced a formidable challenge last August when they turned down a massive £150 million bid from Saudi Arabian Premier League champions, Al-Ittihad, for the services of Mohamed Salah. Many critics questioned this decision based on Salah’s age, but what they overlooked is that Salah, at the age of 31, defies conventional norms. In the current English Premier League season, Salah has contributed to 22 goals (scoring 14 and assisting in 8) in 20 matches, with an impressive average of a contribution every 79 minutes. His recent brilliant performance, netting two goals and assisting another against Newcastle, further highlighted his exceptional form.
Jurgen Klopp paid tribute to Mohamed Salah as a tireless goal-scoring force, emphasizing the latter’s exceptional character. In a thrilling 4-2 victory over Newcastle United, Salah’s boot exchange in the first half proved to be pivotal, leading Liverpool to the top of the table by three points.
Despite missing a penalty kick in the first half, Salah led the attack in the second, initiating the scoring in the game in the 49th minute, playing a crucial role in Curtis Jones’ goal in the 74th minute, and providing an excellent pass for Cody Jacobo’s goal just four minutes later. Salah scored two goals in the match, one of which came from a penalty kick, which made up for his missed shot earlier; Salah’s impact on Liverpool’s remarkable start to 2024 has been undeniable.
Reflecting on the first-half turnaround, Salah admitted, “I’d trained in the shoes that I failed to take the penalty kick with only yesterday. If I feel that the boots might affect my mindset, I change them. I consciously calmed my mind, focused, and tried to make a difference, and fortunately, it worked.”
Salah’s recent goal marked his entry into the elite group of the very few number of players who have scored 150 Premier League goals with a single club. He joins in this feat the likes of Harry Kane, Sergio Aguero, Wayne Rooney, and Thierry Henry. However, his looming departure to the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast leaves a significant void.
If Salah leads Egypt to the final on February 11, he could miss about eight crucial matches for Liverpool in various competitions, including the FA Cup third-round clash against Arsenal, League Cup semi-final encounters against Fulham, and league matches against Bournemouth, Chelsea, Arsenal again, and Burnley. Additionally, there’s the possibility of an FA Cup fourth-round match during his absence.
Klopp now faces the tough task of filling the void left by Salah on the right wing while ensuring Liverpool maintains its top position in the Premier League until Salah’s return.
The absence of influential midfielder Wataru Endo, who is departing for the Asian Cup concurrently with the Africa Cup of Nations, further complicates matters. However, the return of Alexis McAllister after a month-long injury provides a boost to the midfield and gives Klopp some breathing space.
Salah has directly contributed to 51% of Liverpool’s 43 league goals this season. His absence will be felt not only in terms of leadership but also in the quality of his game which daily reverberates through the entire team.
Salah’s exceptional durability is evident in having missed only 10 Premier League matches during his more than six seasons with Liverpool. Those absences are attributed to three main reasons, the first of which is the previous Africa Cup of Nations two years ago. The second reason is the rare 3 occasions on which he was left out as an unused substitute. The remaining 5 absences are attributed to injuries and illness.
The last time Liverpool played a league match without Salah harks back to the 2021-22 season against Southampton, where he was ruled out in a precautionary measure ahead of the Champions League final due to a minor thigh problem.
Identifying a direct replacement for Salah is challenging due to his consistent presence throughout the season. However, Harvey Elliott, having displayed expertise in that position, deserves more playing time. Elliott himself has expressed readiness for this role, having grown up playing in that position. Additionally, Diogo Jota could serve as another right-wing option, with Dominik Szoboszlai providing further depth.
In Salah’s absence, the responsibility for scoring will need to be distributed across the team. While the absence of his lethal scoring instinct is concerning, Liverpool’s attacking fluidity and ability to create numerous chances against Newcastle showcased their prowess, which resulted in an impressive record. Out of 34 shots, 15 were on target, resulting in an expected goals (xG) value of 7.27 – the highest recorded in an English Premier League match since the 2010-2011 season which is when this number began to be registered.
Gakpo’s goal marked his remarkable return to scoring in the English Premier League after the dry spell he had been going through since September. Meanwhile, Jota continued to make impressive contributions after coming on as a substitute, while Luis Diaz displayed a more threatening performance on the left side.
Darwin Nunez, who ended his 12-game goalscoring drought in style against Burnley, and despite struggling to convert chances, earned praise from Klopp for his sacrifices in preparing Salah to break the scoring deadlock in the game.
Klopp, after the match, confirmed, “99.99% of the players would have tried to shoot, but Darwin chose to pass the ball instead. It was an outstanding moment.” While acknowledging missed opportunities as part of the game, Klopp expressed satisfaction with the overall performance.
However, with Salah’s absence, things have gotten more difficult and there’s a change in the scenery now. Sustaining this momentum will require a collective and substantial effort from the entire Liverpool team. Will the team succeed in their quest?
In navigating the challenges ahead without Salah, Liverpool faces a crucial test of depth and adaptability. As they seek to maintain their impressive form and momentum, strategic decisions become paramount. In this dynamic landscape, Betway emerges as an invaluable resource, providing a platform for fans in UAE to engage with the team’s journey through insightful odds and a seamless online betting experience. Embrace the thrill of the game with Betway, the premier online betting site in UAE.
– Ali Seif El Din
