Liverpool have made a free-scoring start to the season with Sadio Mane back to his best and Mo Salah’s recent run of goals in 10 consecutive games prompting claims from Jurgen Klopp – and others – that he is currently the best player in the world.
But their much-vaunted strike force suffered a big setback when Roberto Firmino – a creator as much as a scorer of goals – was ruled out for at least a month with what Klopp described as a “serious” hamstring injury.
And lurking on the horizon early in the New Year is the African Cup of Nations tournament which will mean they will be without both Mane and Salah possibly for up to six weeks – depending on how far Senegal and Egypt progress – at a pivotal time of the season.
So far, Salah (15), Mane (eight) and Firmino (six) have been responsible for 29 of Liverpool’s 47 goals in all competitions and the concern for Klopp will be who will fill the scoring void and keep their title bid on track when the main men fly off to Africa.
Diogo Jota has weighed in with five and the former Wolves striker will obviously be expected to shoulder a greater burden as will Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino, neither of whom has started a Premier League game yet.
Giving Origi and Minamino more game-time to find their rhythm before January will be vital and that’s one of the reasons why Klopp was so delighted, firstly to have made progress in the EFL Cup, but also to wrap up Champions League qualification as group winners with two games to spare.
Minamino and Origi have scored all five of Liverpool’s goals in their EFL Cup wins over Norwich and Preston and they can expect to start in the quarter-final against Leicester next month. But before then could also figure against Porto and AC Milan in Europe now qualification as group winners for the last 16 has been secured.
Mane often flies under the radar because of Salah’s remarkable goal scorer prowess but he underlined he is back to his best after a below-par campaign last season with his well-taken midweek goal against an Atletico Madrid team that had clearly targeted him for some “roughing up” treatment in a bid to keep him quiet – or get him sent off.
Klopp, who took Mane off at the break following his first half booking, was quick to praise the importance of his eye for goal and work-rate in Liverpool’s high-intensity approach.
“He is in top shape and a top moment,” he said. “I think his goal on Wednesday, and his impact for the goal, was maybe under-rated or under-estimated. It would never have been a chance if Sadio had not got rid of four or five Atletico players – and we all know how Atletico played.
“Getting through that stalemate without going down, staying on his feet, passing the ball to the outside and immediately seeing the opportunity – that sums up the shape that Sadio is in at the moment, which is pretty good. I’m really happy for him.
“I didn’t see his form that critically last year but if he was not happy with it that’s fine. And if he wants to improve that’s fine. If David Moyes says he can improve after 999 games as manager then we can do that as well and that is what we are working on – Sadio as well. I am really happy about the shape he is at the moment.
Last season Liverpool were dogged by defensive injuries while in January it could be striker absentees but at the moment it is the midfield department being hit with Naby Keita, James Milner and Curtis Jones all out, along with long-term casualty Harvey Elliott.
But Thiago Alcantara’s return in midweek after a six-week absence and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s performances in the last three games have given Klopp some options as Liverpool bid to set a new club record unbeaten run in ALL competitions of 26 games at in-form West Ham tomorrow (Sun). It would beat the record set by Bob Paisley’s team across two seasons in 1982.
Klopp though dismissed comparisons with Paisley’s all-conquering side, saying: “We don’t go for a record at West Ham, we go for three points – which is difficult enough.”
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3BQ8wYm
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