Big-money strikers needs to step up when Mo goes out to Africa

LIVERPOOL'S return after the international break can't come soon enough, but there is another international issue that awaits the Reds next month.

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Mohamed Salah will once again depart for the Africa Cup of Nations in December, with this year's tournament moving slightly earlier than previous editions and ensuring that the Reds’ talisman will potentially miss more games than he has in the past.

And with questions over Liverpool's setup this season, and indeed over Salah's involvement in the starting lineup at all, minds have turned to just how the Reds could line up when Salah is off representing his country. We asked ECHO writers what they think.

Paul Gorst...

IT WOULD be no real shock if there were some at Liverpool who were quietly hoping for a disappointing showing from Egypt at this year's Africa Cup of Nations.

Anfield officials have always wished nothing but success for Mohamed Salah on the international stage and have accommodated the Pharaohs captain as much as possible to help over the course of his time on Merseyside.

But with the Premier League campaign a difficult one, being without the top scorer of the last eight season is not ideal at a time when the fixtures begin to pile up around mid-to-late December.

And with Salah wanted by Egypt for a December 14 friendly against Nigeria, there is still the prospect of Arne Slot being made to do without his talisman for even longer than initially expected. Those talks, as the ECHO reported on Monday, remain ongoing as it stands.