Carragher names two options to replace Salah - but one may be lost already

02 January 2024 , 12:28

745     0

Carragher names two options to replace Salah - but one may be lost already

Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool stars Harvey Elliot and Dominik Szoboszlai can fill the void left by Mo Salah this month although his hopes for the Hungarian may already be scuppered.

Salah will now join up with the Egyptian squad for the African Cup of Nations, meaning he could potentially miss eight club games depending on how far his country goes in the tournament. And as a reminder of how much he will be missed by the Reds, he signed off from Anfield with two goals in the 4-2 triumph over Newcastle on New Year's Day.

But it may not just be Salah who Jurgen Klopp has to deal without in the coming weeks. Just after the hour mark, Szoboszlai was replaced by Ryan Gravenberch, with the midfielder clearly clutching his right hamstring as he made his way to the sidelines.

Immediately after the game, Klopp appeared in the dark over the extent of the damage to his £60million summer signing. Referring to the frenzied fixture schedule, he said: "Dominik Szoboszlai with a hamstring, we hope not too serious. Other players felt it as well. It's super intense. But there's no alternative if you want to win football games."

Should the 23-year-old escape unscathed though, he's been backed by Carragher to fulfil Salah's wide forward role, with Elliott also backed. "It will be very interesting to see who he puts in that position," he told Sky Sports.

Klopp's dream Liverpool line up as last-gasp January transfers rejected

"An option could be Harvey Elliot. I think he is more of a midfield player, he lacks pace to play in the front three but he could do it. But also Szoboszlai. Liverpool have got a lot of midfield options now with Alexis Mac Allister back, Szoboszlai has played in that position for his former club."

Jamie Carragher has backed Dominik Szoboszlai (centre) and Harvey Elliott (left) to fill the void left by Mo Salah

HAVE YOUR SAY! Can Liverpool keep winning without Mo Salah? Comment below.

The former club defender did concede however, that replicating Salah's strike-rate would be nigh-on impossible. "You can’t replace his (Salah’s) goals," he added. "That will be very difficult.’

The 31-year-old has struck 18 times in all competitions for the Reds this season. That's nine more than the next best Liverpool player, Diogo Jota, while the two stars touted by Carragher have just five goals between them.

Klopp's side do not play again in the Premier League until January 21. Prior to that though, they go to Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday, three days before the home leg of their League Cup semi final tie with Fulham.

Fraser Watson