MO OF THE SAME

Kop must cope with no Salah again

- CHRIS MCKENNA

HOW to solve a problem like your star player heading off to a different continent for a month? Probably hope there is a repeat of the last time it happened.

When Egypt star Mo Salah jetted off to the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2022, he wasn't missed despite his influence beforehand.

Liverpool won their two Premier League games and progressed in both domestic cup competitions to keep alive hopes of a Quadruple that season.

Back then Salah had scored 16 league goals before he departed, while Sadio Mane was also called up for AFCON duty with Senegal, having netted eight times.

Yet this time Salah's absence feels more significant, even with the likes of Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott to fill in.

Salah has been the focal point of what is turning out to be a real title tilt for Jurgen Klopp's men.