How Liverpool could line up without Mohamed Salah

How Liverpool could line up without Mohamed Salah

Salah is heading off to AFCON
Salah is heading off to AFCON / Lewis Storey/GettyImages

Liverpool's Premier League title hopes are about to face their biggest obstacle yet - the Africa Cup of Nations.

Star man Mohamed Salah will be heading off on international duty with Egypt, with the Pharaohs out to avenge their final loss two years ago.

The forward has been at his best this season and his lasting influence was evident in Monday's 4-2 win at home to Newcastle United.

So how will Liverpool cope without Salah? Who will step into his shoes? What will Jurgen Klopp do to adapt?


Harvey Elliott back to the wing

Harvey Elliott
Elliott has impressed this season / Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages

Shifting Harvey Elliott out wide is Liverpool's best shot of replacing Salah like-for-like. Or as like-for-like as they can realistically get. You get the idea.

Elliott is the only attack-minded player who is naturally left-footed and he has played on the right in place of Salah during the Reds' Europa League campaign. The main problem here is he might be needed in midfield with Wataru Endo off to the Asian Cup and Dominik Szoboszlai sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Potential lineups:

Elliott - Nunez - Diaz

Elliott - Jota - Diaz

Elliott - Gakpo - Diaz


A new Cody Gakpo experiment

UEFA Europa Europa League 2023/24Royale Union Saint-Gilloise v Liverpool FC
Gakpo's versatility has proven useful / ANP/GettyImages

One of Liverpool's major strengths in their current guise has been their ability to chop and change forwards in search of scoring solutions.

Key to this has been the versatility of Cody Gakpo, who has played as a striker, left winger and midfielder already this season.

A comfortable technician and a creator as much as a direct goal threat, it could be worth Klopp's time to start him from the right.

Potential lineups:

Gakpo - Nunez - Diaz

Gakpo - Jota - Diaz


Luis Diaz swaps sides

Luis Diaz
Diaz is electric / Michael Regan/GettyImages

Luis Diaz is the last true winger that Liverpool have available for selection, and even then he's spent much of his Reds career coming inside into central areas.

The electrifying Colombian at least has the attributes to play on his natural right side. This would represent a slight change to the way Liverpool play, but without Salah that's inevitable anyway.

Potential lineups:

Diaz - Nunez - Jota

Diaz - Nunez - Gakpo


Up the Darwin Nunez chaos

Darwin Nunez
Nunez has had an up-and-down season / Michael Regan/GettyImages

If Liverpool are relying on the goals of Darwin Nunez to win the Premier League, they are probably going to fall short.

When Salah's in the team, that's fine. When he's not, then there's a real problem. Taking Nunez out of central areas and having him stretch defences with his pace and power might be his best use without the Egyptian there to help.

Potential lineups:

Nunez - Jota - Diaz

Nunez - Gakpo - Diaz

Nunez - Jota - Gakpo

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