Liverpool may have to manage without Mohamed Salah until mid-February, depending on Egypt’s performance at AFCON.
The absence of Mohamed Salah comes at an inopportune moment for Liverpool, especially during a tight Premier League title contest.
Jurgen Klopp and his team will soon face the challenge of Salah’s absence as he gears up for AFCON, which kicks off on January 13. If Egypt progresses to the tournament’s final, Salah might be unavailable until February 11.
This development places added pressure on Liverpool’s attacking front, which has recently struggled to produce results. The team will need other players to step up and contribute in Salah’s absence.
Fortunately, the return of Diogo Jota could help alleviate some of these concerns. Additionally, there may be another player ready to seize this opportunity and make a significant impact.
Fabio Carvalho, a product of the Fulham academy, might return to Liverpool in January’s transfer window. This potential move arises from his limited playing opportunities at RB Leipzig this season. Although he was loaned to the Bundesliga outfit for the season, his appearances have mostly been as a substitute in both league and cup matches.
The chances of Carvalho’s game time increasing at Leipzig seem slim. This is exacerbated by Leipzig’s intention to finalise a deal for Napoli’s attacking midfielder, Eljif Elmas. Such a signing would further reduce Carvalho’s opportunities at the German club.
Recent reports from the ECHO suggest that Liverpool are considering recalling Carvalho. This decision stems from concerns that his current predicament isn’t benefiting either the 21-year-old player or Liverpool.
While sending him on loan to another club for the season’s latter half is a possibility, retaining the player, who was pivotal in Fulham’s 2021/22 Championship victory, remains a feasible option for manager Klopp.
During his first season with Merseyside, the young player displayed moments of brilliance. Notably, he shined in consecutive matches against Bournemouth and Newcastle in August 2022.
Despite coming off the bench in both games, he managed to find the net on both occasions. Furthermore, in a Carabao Cup match against Manchester City last December, he quickly responded with a goal after Erling Haaland’s initial strike at the Etihad Stadium.
Reviewing Liverpool’s schedule for January, it seems likely that Carvalho could play a crucial role. He may feature prominently in a two-game Carabao Cup semi-final against his former team,
Fulham. Additionally, a Premier League encounter with Bournemouth could see the young talent positioned on the left flank. This would provide players like Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez with some valuable rest.
As Liverpool gear up to compete on multiple fronts in the upcoming months, retaining Carvalho could prove pivotal in their pursuit of silverware.
In other Liverpool news, 7 Reasons Why Diogo Jota is a Crucial Part of Liverpool