Klopp told he can win Liverpool quadruple this season - if Salah is back soon

07 January 2024 , 02:00

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Former Liverpool keeper Sander Westerveld is tipping the Reds complete a clean sweep this season - if they can keep Mo Salah healthy.

‌Westerveld, who helped Gerard Houllier’s Anfield Class of 2001 win an historic cup treble, has admitted that he has now started to believe that Jurgen Klopp ’s team are on the verge of something special after watching Salah star in the 4-2 destruction of Newcastle.

‌Klopp must now succeed without his talisman after the Egyptian departed for the African Cup of Nations. Westerveld feels the next few weeks will be pivotal in Liverpool ’s season - but is backing them in the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup if Salah returns from the Ivory Coast still firing on all cylinders.

Westerveld, who was part of the team that also lifted the European Super Cup and Charity Shield at the start of the following season, said: “Before the Christmas period, I was still not sure if Liverpool really had the side and the form to win the league and the cups.

‌"Before the Newcastle match, I literally said that Liverpool was not ready to be champions again this season. But having watched them in this blistering form and having witnessed how they had total dominance for 90 minutes against Newcastle, it has impressed me so much. It was a fabulous victory and the score could have been much higher.

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Salah was in fine form against Newcastle before he headed for Ivory Coast (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

‌“There is not another team which has such a fast change from defence to attack. Their switch and their pace is killing their opponents. When you watch the speed of the game every time in the first half, you just know that Liverpool’s opponents get tired in the second half. And that is the moment when they get space. I saw that pattern against Newcastle.

‌"Liverpool chase the opposition with 100 percent effort, always with three men surrounding a player. I love the quality of the bench as well. The quality Jurgen Klopp has on the bench will make the biggest difference in the next few months.”

‌And that was where Westerveld inserted a caveat in his prediction that Liverpool can sweep all before them in the coming months.

‌Klopp will be without Salah when he takes his team to face title rivals Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup. The Egyptian will also miss both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Fulham - and up to four Premier League games.

‌The Dutchman feels the onus is on the likes of Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch to step up. Westerveld said: “Mo Salah is doing such incredible things that I am laughing when I think about it - yet Mo is not even having his best season yet!

Sander Westerveld helped Liverpool to three cups in the 2000-01 season (Daily Mirror)

‌“He has 14 goals and eight assists in the Premier League - and that is more than Haaland, more than Son, and all the others. Salah missed a penalty against Newcastle, but do you think it bothers him? The second one he wanted to take straight away.

‌“I have full confidence in Mo. If some of his team-mates had an eye for Mo like he has for them, his stats would be even better. He can honestly produce bigger things.

‌“There are moments in the game where you don’t see him or his contributions are not the greatest, but with one pass or one goal he can decide matches for Liverpool. And this is exactly why Klopp rarely takes him off.”

‌Westerveld added: “When he makes substitutions, like he did against Newcastle, Klopp can bring on Jota, Gakpo and Gravenberch. I love Jota. His link-ups with Salah were brilliant - and he proves every time that he is better in the box than Nunez.

‌“Nunez is the striker who needs lots of space and he loves his moments when Liverpool are counter-attacking. Jota and Gakpo are the guys who can do all the work in the 18-yard box and in the goalmouth. If you give them the ball in small spaces they are great. The quality on the bench really makes the difference in a team that fights for the title.”