With Mohamed Salah out, Jurgen Klopp says it is “impossible” for Liverpool to play in the same manner without the Egyptian.

The forward, who scored twice against Newcastle on New Year’s Day, will represent his country in the Africa Cup of Nations, but the Reds will be without their most prolific goalscorer and key attacking danger.

Salah has been a fixture in Liverpool’s front three since his arrival in 2017, and his impact on games makes him difficult to replace. So much so that, despite the abundance of attacking quality at his disposal, Klopp admits that whoever replaces Salah on the right, likely Harvey Elliott, will not be able to recreate the Egyptian.

“I think we played against West Ham with Harvey there, and we have different defensive options,” he explained. Other players can play on the wing, but not as effectively as Mo. That is the premise behind it: we employ the boys and their skills. Do we want to play with or without Mo? No.

“However, we will find a way.” Of course, we play Arsenal, and we can lose with Mo Salah – but right now, we have a chance to win, so we consider that.”

An FA Cup match against Arsenal will be Liverpool’s first without Salah, who has previously been absent due to AFCON.

The games are coming thick and fast for Klopp, who wants to keep the Merseysiders fighting on four fronts with a Carabao Cup semi-final on the horizon.

Liverpool’s attacking options include Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, and Diogo Jota, although each of the aforementioned quartet has shown to be as potent in front of goal.

Salah, on the other hand, was sure that his club would do well in his absence: “We believe too much, we have such good talents, they just need to work hard, nothing else.” We need to express ourselves, play football, and if they succeed, Working hard, as I see it at the gym, after training, and during games, is what keeps us winning.”