LIVERPOOL MANAGER JURGEN Klopp is determined to find a short-term solution to the absence of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
Despite playing against 10 men for 71 minutes, the goalless Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg draw with Arsenal represented the first time since April the Reds had failed to score at home.
That inevitably led the focus to fall on two forwards currently occupied at the Africa Cup of Nations who have provided 24 goals and 10 assists across 20 Premier League matches this season.
There is a possibility Salah could be back by this time next week if Egypt, who lost their opening game and sit bottom of their group, fail to make it through to the knockout stages.
Mane’s stay with Senegal looks like being longer but regardless Klopp needs to come up with a way to compensate while they are gone and he knows results like the Arsenal one will only intensify the scrutiny.
“The only way to avoid these kind of questions is by scoring,” said Klopp.
“Do we miss them? Yes. But we have had struggles even with Sadio and Mo against 10 men. It’s about how can we do better with the team.
“It is not about who is not in, it is about how we can do better with the team who played last night.
“We were not good enough in moments. That’s the situation, nothing to do with who is not here.
“It was crystal clear we would sit here today after drawing 0-0 against Arsenal and the only thing you have in your mind is Sadio and Mo are not here.
“That is not a solution, it is only part of the problem and we are here to find solutions. I am completely in the game to find these solutions.
“We have to get through different periods in a season, we always had to, and this is our period now so let’s go through this together.”
The absence of Salah and Mane robs Liverpool of pace up front but Klopp insists that is not the issue and they need to play smarter, not faster.
“A lot of top counter-pressing moments and winning the ball back are not about this final pace that they usually bring, this is needed in different situations,” added Klopp ahead of Sunday’s visit of Brentford.
“We have to play against deep formations in between the lines and quick thinking is more important than quick running.
“Yes, Mo and Sadio can think quick as well but they are not here.”
Klopp has received a boost with the news striker Divock Origi is back in light training after five weeks out with a knee injury.
“It’s likely we could see him soon. Yesterday he was outside running and looked really good. He will not be too far away,” he said.
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The absence and ‘draw blank’ will hopefully have a positive outcome. Hopefully show what the owners what life without Salah is like coming into contract negotiations.
One man team…
@Stephen Foster: nonsense
Problem is when the full backs are not firing and off form , you need a good attacking midfielder who is not afraid to shoot from outside the box and can thread a ball through to the front 3.
Thiago is that player but unfortunately he is made of biscuits and is constantly injured.
The 3 midfielders last night are all great holding and defensive midfielders in their own right and do that job great but none are in the mould of a Stevie G or KDB.
I think Salah and Mane would have struggled a bit last night too especially with TAA and Robertson not at the races , we have seen struggles in the past to break down teams that don’t want to play.
I’m afraid Jurgen is full of bs! Like our owners!!! When we won both the CL n then the EPL the investment has dried up! Carragher called it lately, JK said that there was no room for Harland n bought minomino for 5mil was a classic bs owners statement, now cant pay to keep our best player n can’t afford top talent either! I’m afraid we are headin back to another long wait till we get wealthy owners!
Simple, buy back Rhian Brewster for £20m.
@Pat Ryan: Solanke would be the better option for 15