Liverpool’s resounding 5-1 victory against West Ham secured their spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. But, the Reds brace for challenges ahead as they gear up to face Fulham without Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo.
The Anfield showdown against West Ham showcased Liverpool’s prowess. Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Salah, and Cody Gakpo were all in the scoresheet to seal their semi-final spot against Fulham. However, their upcoming fixtures coincide with the Premier League’s winter break. The absence of Salah and Endo due to their international commitments poses a concern for the team.
Salah’s involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled from January 13 to February 11 in the Ivory Coast, and Endo’s participation in the Asian Cup held in Qatar from January 12 to February 10, will keep them away from crucial matches. Salah aims to feature against Arsenal in the FA Cup third round before joining Egypt’s squad. Endo anticipates a similar timescale for his duty with Japan.
How many fixtures Salah and Endo might miss for Liverpool?
Salah and Endo’s absence will impact Liverpool’s crucial fixtures. That is, it will impact both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Fulham on January 9/10 and January 23/24. Additionally, they will miss a Premier League clash against Bournemouth on January 21, potentially extending to further games if their national teams progress in their respective tournaments.
Liverpool’s finish atop Group E in the Europa League ensured they bypass the knockout playoff. Otherwise, they would have faced two-legged ties against various clubs in February. With Egypt and Japan’s strong prospects in their tournaments, Salah and Endo’s absence might stretch to a potential FA Cup fourth-round tie and beyond, affecting the team’s lineup in critical fixtures.
The Reds’ resolve will be tested as they navigate key encounters without the contributions of Salah and Endo, relying on squad depth and tactical adaptability to overcome these challenges in pursuit of success across multiple competitions.
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