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After exceeding all expectations this season in the English Premier League, Liverpool faces their biggest obstacle yet in the absence of both Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold. How can coach Jurgen Klopp’s team maintain its aspirations to win the title without its two biggest creative forces?
Mohamed Salah will be absent from Liverpool for about a month due to his participation with the Egyptian national team in the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, from January 13 until next February 11.
While Trent Alexander-Arnold joined the long injury list at Anfield, and his absence may reach 3 weeks.
👀 Most big chances created in the Premier League this season:
🥇 Mohamed Salah – 17
🥈 Trent Alexander-Arnold – 12😬 #LFC now look set to be without both players for at least a number of weeks… https://t.co/zSkZMjaxaG pic.twitter.com/fLpxxLmPei
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) January 9, 2024
According to the global website “HoScord”, which specializes in football statistics, Mohamed Salah and Arnold are the players who created the most chances in the English Premier League during the current season 2023-2024.
Mohamed Salah is the player who creates the most chances, with 17 chances, and Arnold comes behind him with 5 fewer chances, so their absence will affect the “Reds” in the competition for the Premier League title.
The absence of Mohamed Salah and Arnold will have a negative impact on the offensive line’s scoring rates.
The Reds quartet, represented by the Dutchman Cody Gakpo, the Uruguayan Darwin Nunez, the Portuguese Diogo Gota and the Colombian Luis Diaz, are suffering greatly from their weak scoring output.
Gota scored 9 goals in 20 matches, while Nunez scored 8 goals on 29 occasions, equal to Gakpo, who scored the same tally in 26 matches.
As for Luis Diaz, he scored only 6 goals during the 25 matches he played in all tournaments.
Substitutes
Klopp and his assistant Pep Lijnders have come up with solutions for every enforced absence so far this season.
Liverpool has many players who can make a difference, but perhaps none of them are at the same level as the duo who often shine on the right side.
🤔 Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and outstanding issue Liverpool must now solve
Read more 👉 https://t.co/E6RCYVgCIZ pic.twitter.com/7GVXjRmwxZ— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) January 10, 2024
The truth is that there are no substitutes for Arnold and Mohamed Salah, as the former is Liverpool’s main playmaker.
He is also considered one of the most important pillars of the German coach’s squad, as he relies heavily on him as a distinctive offensive weapon, in addition to his ability to play set pieces very brilliantly.
Arnold scored two goals and made 9 goals in 25 matches, even though he plays right back.
His absence represents a great opportunity for Connor Bradley, who excelled as a substitute at the Emirates Stadium, but he cannot replicate Arnold’s skills.
I don’t think people understand the degree of trouble this Trent Alexander-Arnold injury is going to cause. Seen everyone saying “No problem, Conor Bradley it’s your time”, but without Trent, Salah & Szobo we have 0 creativity!!
Everything runs through Trent!!
Speedy recovery❤️ pic.twitter.com/OJ1Oaip4rX
— Saschaa (@dailysaschaa) January 9, 2024
Nor can Harvey Elliott or anyone replace Mohamed Salah, but the Egyptian’s absence gives the England Under-21 star the opportunity to prove himself on the right flank.
Mohamed Salah contributed to scoring 27 goals with Liverpool in all competitions this season, scoring 18 and providing 9 assists on 27 occasions.
There really is no-one better for Harvey Elliott to learn from than Mohamed Salah; on and off the pitch that is. He is the ultimate professional. pic.twitter.com/ddGgR8zHAt
— Keifer MacDonald (@KeiferMacD) February 11, 2022
While all signs point to a repeat of the title struggle between Manchester City and Arsenal, we find that it is Liverpool who are at the top of the English Premier League after 20 matches.
Liverpool have exceeded all expectations so far this season, but the next four weeks could be the Reds’ toughest test.
