Klopp and Liverpool face January blues without Egyptian king Salah

League leaders will lose their talisman to the Africa Cup of Nations and must hope Diogo Jota et al step up in his absence

BIG LOSS: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (left) and Mohamed Salah before the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Pic: PA Wire

No Salah, no Salah, no Salah, running down the wing. The words might as well ring out in the style of the Kop’s favourite song, like a red alert around Anfield. With Liverpool the Premier League’s somewhat surprising leaders after a topsy-turvy half-season, could Mohamed Salah’s sojourn at the Africa Cup of Nations provide hope for their rivals and another twist in the title race?

Jürgen Klopp donned a furrowed brow when the topic was tabled as he looked forward to Monday’s visit of Newcastle, lamenting Salah’s absence not quite with the fury he directs at Saturday lunchtime schedulers but with a sigh and a shrug. Of Liverpool’s three defeats in all competitions this season, only one came with Salah in the side and that was when they were down to nine men at Tottenham.