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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp taking Mohamed Salah risk but may perform U-turn today
Jurgen Klopp may have to re-think his Liverpool transfer plans due to Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool's Anfield stadium in focus
Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp could be facing a nightmare January scenario regarding Mohamed Salah that could force the club into a change of heart over their transfer plans. The Reds and the rest of the Premier League are set to discover their schedule for the 2023/24 season today, and Klopp and co will cast an eye over one month in particular.
January will see the African Cup of Nations return and Liverpool are set to lose Salah for the month while he competes in the Ivory Coast with Egypt. In previous years, the Reds have managed to get away with him missing just one or two league games on international duty in addition to domestic cup ties, but which fixtures he will be unavailable for currently remains to be seen.
Liverpool are so far unlikely to land another attacker in the summer transfer window, as youngsters Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon will hope to get the opportunity to impress in his absence - while Diogo Jota can fill in on the right flank.
However, if Klopp and co are handed a difficult January schedule and face their rivals at the top of the table he would be reluctant to play his top prospects and an injury to Liverpool’s frontline could leave them in a difficult position for the month.
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Meanwhile, unless another forward is signed this summer, the Reds will be down a senior attacker. Luis Diaz joined in January 2022, Darwin Nunez the following summer and Cody Gakpo January 2023 have all moved to Anfield while Sadio Mane, Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino and Roberto Firmino have or are all departing.
The fixture announcement could enforce Liverpool to revisit their plans of not bringing in another forward, despite the need to overhaul Klopp’s midfield and the likelihood of defensive reinforcements being brought to Anfield after their change in shape to close out the season.
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Liverpool’s current stars are also of the opinion that further additions are necessary, after Ibrahima Konate spoke out regarding the club’s transfer policy. “We have to replace them,” Konate told RMC Sport regarding Firmino, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner.
“If not, what do we do? Do we play with an understaffed squad lacking in quality? You can’t rely on youth at this level. I’m sure the boss and the recruitment team know we need new players.”
His sentiments were then echoed by Virgil van Dijk, as he said: “It's a good start to the transfer window [signing Alexis Mac Allister], hopefully we get a couple more quality additions. But he's definitely one of the players that can hopefully make a difference for us in the next couple of years.”