Gakpo makes bold Salah claim as Liverpool prepare for talisman's absence
Cody Gakpo claims Liverpool have shown they can cope without striking talisman Mohamed Salah.
Salah departs after Monday’s game against Newcastle and Liverpool ’s 16-goal top scorer will leave a massive hole in the Reds’ attack. Salah could miss up to seven games for Liverpool, including both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Fulham and FA Cup and Premier League clashes against Arsenal at the Emirates.
But Darwin Nunez ended his 12-game barren run against Burnley before Diogo Jota came off the bench to score within seven minutes of his comeback and Gakpo says their goals were perfectly timed. Jota, who missed a month with a hamstring injury, is Liverpool’s second top scorer with nine while Nunez has netted eight times and Gakpo is delighted to see them back among the goals.
“Yeah, of course,” said the Dutch star. “For every attacking player who didn’t score for a few games, it’s always nice to get back on the scoresheet and Darwin did that with a very good goal. For Diogo as well, when you’re injured and you come back and score, that’s always nice and good for the confidence. So I’m really happy. Mo is gone after the Newcastle game so we need the goals.”
Gakpo, 24, was denied an eighth goal of the campaign when his first-half strike at Turf Moor was disallowed for a foul by Nunez on Charlie Taylor and he says he can also play his part.
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“I haven’t seen it back yet,” he said. “Darwin told me he didn’t really touch the guy, but at the end it is the decision of the ref and we have to accept that. But of course, I think I can contribute even more.”
Mohamed Salah could miss up to seven Liverpool matches while he is at AFCON (Getty Images)Victory at Burnley took Liverpool back top of the table, at least until Arsenal face West Ham on Thursday, and Gakpo is not getting carried away. Jurgen Klopp is more pleased that Liverpool have 42 points at the halfway stage and Gakpo insists no-one at Anfield is talking about the title.
“The table’s not looking in a bad place, but we have to take it one game at a time,” he said. "We mustn’t let our heads go everywhere all over the place, we must stay focused and keep doing what we’re doing now and even improve more.”
Burnley completed Liverpool’s hectic run of eight games in 24 days in December and Gakpo, who will clock up one year at Anfield since his £37million switch from PSV Eindhoven on Monday, likes the intensity.
“It’s really intense, but we train for that kind of load,” he said. “I like it to be honest. It’s the first time I played with this intensity, a lot of games in a few days. It’s nice as if you play a good game, you can play again and if you play a not-so-good game, you can make it good in the next game as everything is coming nice and quick.”
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