The Liverpool boss is confident his team can play Arsenal without Mohamed Salah, but admitted they will be missing another key player for the FA Cup game.
Jurgen Klopp is confident Liverpool’s flexible attack and many attacking options can make up for Mohamed Salah’s absence.
Salah is in the Egypt squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament in January. The forward could miss around eight games for Liverpool, including the one on Sunday. This will see them face Premier League title rivals Arsenal in the FA Cup third round.
“I think we played against West Ham without Mo and Harvey Elliott on that [right] side,” Klopp said at a press conference on Friday.
“We all know we have different offensive options who can all play that wing in a different way. Not Harvey, not anyone who plays on that wing should play Like Mo, it’s not possible. We just have to find another way and use the boys to their skills and that’s the idea behind it.”
Szoboszlai ruled out
Another Liverpool player out for the Arsenal game is Dominik Szoboszlai. The midfielder suffered a hamstring injury in the 4-2 New Year’s Day victory over Newcastle United. He is a doubt for Wednesday’s first leg against Fulham in the EFL Cup semi-finals.
“I can confirm it’s not a potential injury – it is an injury. Muscle, hamstring. But now we have to see,” Klopp said of Szoboszlai.
“Dom is very positive, [he] doesn’t have a lot of pain but we have to wait a little bit. So, no chance obviously for Sunday, not for Wednesday. No. Then we will see.”
As well as Salah and Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo will also be missing for Liverpool. The midfielder is in the Japan team for the Asian Cup.