Jamie Carragher thinks 20-year-old Liverpool youngster could replace Mo Salah

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Jamie Carragher believes that Liverpool could be about to run into a serious problem.

The Reds are currently in a really good moment. Last night’s 4-2 win over Newcastle United means they start the year three points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

For now, all is good. But looming large is the possibility of having to get through the next month without star man Mohamed Salah. After another two goals last night, Salah has been hailed as the ‘world class’ player that he is by Curtis Jones.

But speaking to Sky Sports after last night’s game, Carragher claimed that it’s because of his quality that Liverpool are going to miss the Egyptian so much more.

“That will be a problem,” said the Reds legend, when asked how Jurgen Klopp will replace Salah. “It will be interesting to see who he puts in that position because a lot of Liverpool’s attackers are right footed, they look okay on the left. Jota, Nunez, Gakpo go to the left, nobody looks like they have the right balance for the right.

“A couple of options could be Harvey Elliott, the left foot, he comes inside but I think he is more of a midfield player, probably lacks to the pace to do it. Also Szoboszlai, Liverpool have a lot of midfield options with Mac Allister being back, Endo is going to be fair [to the Asian Cup], but Szoboszlai has played there for a his former club and you then put another midfield player in but you can’t replace his goals. It will be very difficult.”

Carragher states the obvious

If you take a man who scores as many as Salah does out of any team, they’re going to feel it. That is to state the obvious.

But it doesn’t necessarily have to be a ‘problem’ as Carragher puts it for Liverpool.

The one thing working in Klopp’s favour is that he’s had to navigate this very same scenario before. During the last AFCON tournament – back in 2022 – the Reds were also pushing for the title.

Losing Salah was as big a blow then as it is now, but Jurgen also had to deal with a Sadio Mane sized hole on the other side, too.

There was plenty of worry and angst over who would come in and fill the gap then. But as it turned out, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain stepped up and delivered in a big way. Maybe 20-year-old Elliott could be the man to do so this time.

Upon Salah and Mane’s return, Liverpool’s title charge was retained and they eventually missed out on a quadruple by a hair’s breadth.

This time, Klopp only has to plug one hole in his attack. Granted, it’ll be a big one. But with Diogo Jota now back fit, the Liverpool manager has better quality to bring into the team than he did two years ago.

It’s going to be a challenge for the Reds, that’s for sure. However, it’s also a huge opportunity for one of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz or Cody Gakpo to really lay down a marker. We’ll be fine, Carra.