In the 4:2 spectacle against Newcastle, Liverpool performed like genuine title contenders. Now, however, “goal machine” Mohamed Salah is off to the Africa Cup. Jürgen Klopp was nevertheless relieved after the game for another reason
“What fireworks!” – Klopp also went into raptures after his team’s performance on New Year’s Eve. Liverpool FC fired 34 shots at the visitors’ goal at a rainy Anfield Road, setting a new record with an xG value of 7.27 (!) since the statistics were introduced for the 2010/11 season. “It was a sensational game from my team,” praised Klopp. “There were so many aspects of the game that I really liked – apart from the two goals we conceded. “
After finishing fifth in the previous season and the personnel upheaval in the center of midfield, Liverpool were not really counted among the title contenders last summer. In their current form, however, the Reds are absolutely capable of upsetting serial champions Manchester City (currently five points behind with a catch-up game in hand), at least for a long time. Klopp’s team have only lost one of their 20 Premier League games so far – and that was a highly controversial one.
Salah was once again the guarantor of success against Newcastle, not even allowing himself to be put off by an early penalty miss. The Egyptian, who had been courted with a multi-million euro offer from Saudi Arabia shortly before the start of the season, contributed his 13th and 14th goals of the season (top of the league with Erling Haaland) and an impressive assist from the winger to make it 3:1 in the meantime.
The goal to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead was the 31-year-old’s 150th Premier League goal in a Liverpool shirt. A mark that only Harry Kane (213 for Tottenham), Sergio Aguero (184 for Manchester City), Wayne Rooney (183 for Manchester United) and Thierry Henry (175 for Arsenal) have achieved for a club since the Premier League was founded in 1992.
Salah could miss up to eight competitive games – including two against Arsenal
“Nobody should be surprised that Mo can change a game or improve during a game because he has done that hundreds of times,” said Klopp, who will now have to make do without his “goal machine” for the time being. Salah, who has scored 14 goals himself and set up eight more, contributing to more than half of Liverpool’s goals, is heading to the Africa Cup and could miss up to eight competitive games for record winners Egypt if things go well, including the clashes with Arsenal in the FA Cup this Sunday and in the league on February 4.
“I want to win the Africa Cup,” Salah unsurprisingly emphasized after the game. However, he believes his club are well prepared for the time he is away. “I’m sure they’ll be able to win games without me. We have players who can play in my position. “
Cameraman finds Klopp’s wedding ring
After the final whistle, Klopp, who will also be without former Stuttgart player Wataru Endo (Asia Cup with Japan) in the coming weeks, had other things to worry about. He had lost his wedding ring while celebrating his team’s victory. The search on the pitch – for which a steward was also called in – was initially unsuccessful. To Klopp’s relief, however, a cameraman found the ring on the pitch.
“Oh my God, that would have been really terrible,” said Klopp on Sky Sports, where he kissed the ring on camera. “The cameraman has annoyed me a few times this season. But now he has something good for now, because that was really important.” Klopp reported: “I lost the ring once before and needed a professional diver because it was in the sea. It happens from time to time when I lose a kilo or two.” I’m sure others would like to have worries like that just after Christmas.
