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Arne Slot has revealed Liverpool’s plan to cope with Mohamed Salah’s absence during the Africa Cup of Nations.

Salah will be part of Egypt’s attempt to win the tournament, which begins in late December and leaves him unavailable for several games in that period.

He is set to miss the Premier League clashes with Tottenham, Wolves and Leeds but could be absent for another three if the Pharaohs reach the final.

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The possibility of the Reds being without their talisman for the FA Cup third round and a potential Carabao Cup semi-final would also become factors.

But Slot believes that new arrival Jeremie Frimpong’s versatility will offer the reigning English champions adequate cover to handle Salah’s looming hiatus.

He said: “Yes, we definitely thought about that.

“We brought in Jeremie Frimpong because we think he can play as a right full-back but I also think and feel he can play as a right-winger.

“We did think about the fact that we’re going to miss Mo, I think, as a maximum for six games.

“But that’s quite a lot in the Premier League, especially if you see how well he did last season.

“Signing Jeremie Frimpong was for multiple reasons but one of them was also that he could replace Mo if Mo is not there.

“There are other options for me to replace Mo with as well – but Jeremie is definitely one of them.”

The Liverpool head coach also confirmed that Joe Gomez will miss Sunday’s Community Shield with Crystal Palace after picking up a knock in pre-season.

Gomez flew home from the club’s tour of Asia with the issue which has now ruled him out of this weekend’s traditional season curtain-raiser at Wembley.

However Alexis Mac Allister will be in the squad after resuming training since a lay-off which prevented him from playing in the previous campaign’s run-in.

“Unfortunately [Gomez] has a minor injury at the moment,” added Slot.

“But he will be back with the team very soon.

We still have numerous options that can play there.

“[Mac Allister] will be in the squad.

He was out for two months I think, or longer because we didn’t play him in the last four games of the season.

“He trained with us since a week now, played 30 minutes, 45 minutes.

So that’s not a situation where you would start a player [and] play him for 90 minutes.

“Starting is possible but definitely not for 90 minutes.”


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