Liverpool could
be set to head into the busiest time of the calendar year without Mohamed
Salah. The two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner is sitting out
this international break after picking up another ankle, this time in the 3-1
win over Manchester City.
It
was an innocuous challenge, with Fernandinho sliding in to dispossess
the Egypt international, but it jarred the same ankle injured by Hamza
Choudhury at the start of October. Football devotees from around the world
can purchase Premier League Tickets online to enjoy its
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Ankle
injuries have plagued Harry Kane over recent seasons and are
notoriously difficult to shake without a sustained period of rest. Even then,
there’s still a chance of a slight knock reinjuring it. Jürgen Klopp and his
coaching team will have to carefully manage Salah’s recovery if they are to avoid
unnecessary disruption to the second half of his season.
Sky
Sports claim the return date for Liverpool No.11’s return is
uncertain but he’s a doubt for Crystal Palace on November 23. The
Reds are famously vague when it comes to revealing the extent of injuries. A
few weeks have, on more than one occasion, turned into a few months. Fans will
be hoping this isn’t the case for the player with the most goal involvement for
the team in the Premier League this season.
Liverpool
has 17 matches to play over the next 64 days, two of which are in the Champions
League with the Reds not yet securing qualification from the group. It isn’t
make-or-break for their season but a bad patch during this period could undo all
their good work and change the landscape of the season.
The
table-toppers have options in attack to cover Salah’s absence. They aren’t in
his league very few are but there is enough quality at Klopp’s disposal to
piece together a front three capable of winning the majority of matches.
The Belgian has three goals to his name this term and was one of the best
players on the pitch when he filled in for Sadio Mané in the
season-opener against Norwich City.
His
direct play on the left caused the Canaries all sorts of problems and he showed
his goalscoring instincts to drift into the box to nod home Trent
Alexander-Arnold cross.
In
general, however, it’s widely accepted he’s much better suited to being a
super-sub. He may not be scoring goals but when Klopp brings him on, Liverpool
tends to turn matches around. And it can’t be a coincidence.
Xherdan
Shaqiri is the forgotten man of Anfield. Injury has spoiled his chances
this term but he’s due back after the international break. Of all of the
potential options, the former Stoke City man might be the best in terms of not
disrupting the system too much.
Deployed
on the right like Salah, Shaqiri drifts inside onto his favored left foot and
frees up space out wide. Space for the right-sided Centre-midfielder or
Alexander-Arnold to exploit.
The
28-year-old isn’t as potent as Salah few, if any, are but he can be just as
creative as the one-time Roma man. Shaqiri has the vision and the
ability to play incisive passes between the lines and lofted ones over the top
of defenders.
Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain is the most exciting one of the bunches. His time in
Liverpool’s attack has largely been in wide areas. Against Genk, Klopp opted to
use him as a false-nine.
As
far as auditions go, it couldn’t have gone any better. The England
international did his best Firmino impression, dropping deep to link with the
midfield, chipping in defensively and generally being a nuisance in the final
third. He scored what turned out to be the winner and looked lively in and
around the area.
The
former Arsenal man in superb form in front of goal, scoring for
England in Thursday’s 7-0 win over Montenegro. The 26-year-old has five goals
in his last four starts for club and country. Another advantage of playing
Oxlade-Chamberlain there is, of the three options, he’s by far the most
versatile.
He
can play on either flank, as well as centrally, meaning Klopp would be able to
tweak the system in-game without wasting a substitute. It’s one of the
underrated aspects of the usual front three used by the German tactician and
having that option is often a game-changer for the Premier League
leaders.
Being
without Salah is a blow. It’d be a loss for every single team in the world. But
Liverpool has the players to not just cope but to continue on with this rampant
form they’ve shown since the start of the 2018/19 season.
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