How Liverpool could line-up when Salah and Mane leave with Firmino still out

Naby Keita will join Guinea providing he isn't injured but more significantly, the Premier League title challengers will lose Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane for a prolonged period.

AFCON starts on the 9 January with Salah's campaign for Egypt beginning on the 11th against Nigeria whilst Mane's first game for Senegal will be on the 10th against Zimbabwe.

Given that both players will also need to train with their respective nations prior to their matches, Salah and Mane could depart Liverpool after their league game against Chelsea on 2 January.

Should both teams make it to the final, manager Jurgen Klopp's forwards may not return until after 6 February.

In that run, the Reds will have to play without their star men for two FA Cup ties and two league matches against Brentford and Crystal Palace and it will remain to be seen if they are able to play against Leicester City on 9 February.

Salah has torn defences apart this season with a series of incredible goals, assists and outstanding performances which has seen him produce 28 goal contributions in just 20 games.

Mane, meanwhile, seems to have rediscovered his best form this campaign and has also been pivotal to the Reds' success so far this season.

Whilst he is out injured again, Keita's departure will also be another setback for the Reds as they would have been looking to rotate midfielders during the busy schedule, his campaign for Guinea also begins on 10 January.

Losing the trio to Egypt, Senegal and Guinea respectively will be an issue for Klopp but talkSPORT.com takes a look at who could fill that void.

In

Diogo Jota (centre-forward)

The Liverpool forward has been a superb signing since arriving from Wolves in the 2020 summer transfer window.

The Portugal star has thrived for the club and despite arguably producing the miss of the season, Jota has been extremely consistent in front of goal having found the net on nine occasions in 18 games so far.

With Klopp confirming forward Roberto Firmino is still a 'couple of weeks away' from returning to training as he recovers from a hamstring injury, Jota could be asked to lead the line in his absence.

Divock Origi (left-wing)

Liverpool 'legend' Origi has arguably had one of the most remarkable turn arounds at the club.

Arriving in 2015, the Belgian has been one of Klopp's longest serving players and even though he has often been used as a bit-part-player for the Reds, has often delivered the goods when asked.

The Belgian forward netted a sensational last minute winner against Wolves on what was his 100th appearance as a substitute.

Although he has primarily been used to change the game coming off the bench, Origi has shown in the past that he is still capable of influencing games from the start.

As exhibited by his brilliant all round display against Barcelona in the 2019 Champions League semi-final where he scored twice to help send the club into the final of the competition.

Takumi Minamino (right-wing)

Similarly to Origi, the Japan international has also been on the periphery for Klopp for much of his time at Anfield.

Since signing in January 2020, Minamino has had to be patient in receiving his opportunity for the club.

Nearly two years later though, that chance looks finally set to arrive and both he and his manager will desperately hope he can take it.

After arriving back to the club following his loan spell at Southampton in the second half of last season, Minamino has done relatively well for the Reds having scored four goals so far in ten games.

Thiago (central midfielder)

In Keita's absence, the Spanish midfielder has been excellent in his place and finally looks like he is settling in at Anfield.

Thiago, like Keita has struggled for fitness since arriving but he and Klopp will hope those injury days are over and he can now show the form that he was producing during his time with Bayern Munich.

Against Porto, the ex-Barcelona player scored one of the goals of the season and recently against Wolves, he controlled the play from the first minute to last and exhibited why he is likely to keep his place in the team when Keita joins Guinea.

With that said, this is how Liverpool could look when their players head off to the Africa Cup of Nations.

How Liverpool could line up…