NO MO? NO FEAR

Jota warms Kop by insisting red-hot frontline can still sizzle without Salah

DIOGO JOTA says Liverpool are coping well without their talisman Mohamed Salah.

Salah, who could miss another six games for Liverpool if Egypt reach the AFCON final next month, has scored or assisted 26 times in 27 appearances for the Reds this term.

Liverpool won five and drew one of the six matches Salah missed two years ago during their Quadruple-bid season, reaching the Carabao Cup final and fifth round of the FA Cup during his absence. And they have the firepower in Jota, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz to manage without their top scorer this time.

Liverpool have reeled off wins over Arsenal and Fulham in the first two games Salah (top) has missed and Jota says they are underlining the quality throughout the squad. “Obviously we will be without Mo Salah for the next month or so while he is with Egypt at AFCON,” said the Portugal striker (left).

“If I remember right, we did quite well two years ago when he was last away at the tournament, but it’s never easy because the team is used to having Mo on that right wing and we know what a threat he is.

“Just his presence, even sometimes without touching the ball, is enough. We don’t have that, so we need to adapt. On the other hand, I know we have the quality in this squad to make his absence look like it’s not happening.

“We know with him it would be easier but we’re all willing to give it a go.”

It’s worth noting that

Liverpool’s greatest performance of the last five years – the 4-0 defeat of Barcelona in the Champions League – was also without Salah.

Jota, Nunez, Diaz and Gakpo have 32 goals between them this season, plus 14 assists.

They all perform different roles for Liverpool, giving the Reds the most-varied attack in the Premier League, if not Europe. They showed their class in the comeback win over Fulham in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Nunez supplied two assists, taking his tally for the campaign to 10, including creating the winner for Gakpo (left) after the pair came off the bench. Jota scored his 50th goal for the club at Burnley on Boxing Day and during his time at Anfield has proved himself a genuine fox in the box.

He was delighted by his landmark goal, even though he was not aware of it at the time, and says he has improved since he joined from Wolves for £41million three-and-a-half years ago.

“At the time I wasn’t aware that it was 50 for me, but it’s a good mark,” he said. “Although I spent a lot of time injured, it’s an achievement and I look at it as another reason to be proud.

“I’m not the same player who stepped in the door for the first time three or four years ago. I think I’m better now, I understand the game better.

“I feel like I’m properly at home and, every time I step on the pitch, I know what it means to these incredible fans that we have behind us.”