Missing Salah: Liverpool's title aspirations face uncertainty in absence of superstar

Before we delve into the intriguing topic of Mohamed Salah's departure for the Africa Cup of Nations and its potential impact on Liverpool's Premier League title charge, let us first take a moment to marvel at the sheer number of chances Liverpool created in their showdown with Newcastle on Monday night. 

The statistics are truly staggering. Jurgen Klopp's team unleashed an incredible 34 shots, resulting in a sensational xG (expected goals) of 7.27, the highest recorded in the top flight since stats provider Opta began tracking such data in 2010. In essence, Liverpool could have easily scored at least seven goals, and even reaching double digits would not have been an overstatement.

While the Reds ultimately secured a comfortable victory against a defensively unraveling Newcastle side, credit must be given to the exceptional goalkeeping skills displayed by Martin Dubravka, who prevented Liverpool from running up an even more comprehensive scoreline. However, the glaring concern lies in Liverpool's astonishing profligacy in front of goal. Despite their overwhelming dominance and a plethora of opportunities, they struggled to convert those golden chances into actual goals.

Spurred on by relentless rain and gusts of wind, Liverpool unleashed a barrage of attacks against Newcastle. However, there was a looming danger of being held to a third consecutive draw at home after a goalless first half. Luis Diaz had a goal disallowed due to Darwin Nunez being marginally offside in the build-up, while Salah's first penalty was saved, further highlighting his recent struggles from the spot. 

It seemed Salah's conversion rate had dipped, with him failing to score in four out of his last 10 penalty attempts across all competitions. Nevertheless, Salah quickly put that disappointment aside and shone in the second half. Combining seamlessly with Diaz and Nunez, Salah found himself unmarked in the heart of the field, calmly slotting in the opening goal. Although Newcastle managed to equalize, with Nunez missing two good chances to give Liverpool a 2-0 lead, the Reds' superior quality and intricate attacking play eventually paid off. 

Curtis Jones capitalized on an exquisite pass from Salah, tapping the ball into the net after Diogo Jota's involvement. Then, with sublime finesse, Salah delivered a magnificent cross using the outside of his foot, allowing Gakpo to dribble the ball over the line.

Newcastle narrowed the deficit as Sven Botman headed home from a corner. Liverpool, however, managed to avoid a nerve-wracking finale when Jota found himself through on goal and was fouled as he tried to go around Dubravka. 

Salah stepped up to take the penalty, confidently sending Dubravka the wrong way this time around and ensuring that Liverpool opened up a three-point lead at the top. This marked Salah's final contribution before departing to join his national team, potentially leaving a void for up to six weeks.

The victory serves as a testament to Liverpool's formidable record at Anfield, as they remain unbeaten in 22 consecutive games at home. In fact, they have only suffered a single loss in their last 52 Premier League home matches. Salah has undeniably played a pivotal role in Liverpool's remarkable run, contributing 14 goals and eight assists in his 20 appearances this season. The closest player to Salah's assist tally is Nunez, with six assists, but nobody at Anfield comes close to matching Salah's goal-scoring prowess. 

However, Salah's absence during his international duty in January poses a significant challenge for Liverpool. His consistent contributions will be sorely missed. The pressure now falls on fellow attackers Nunez, Jota, and Gakpo to step up and shoulder the burden in Salah's absence. 

While those three have amassed a respectable total of 13 Premier League goals collectively, it may prove insufficient when vying for a title, particularly when trying to fend off a formidable force like Manchester City. In such a competitive title race, every advantage counts, and being without Salah presents a substantial stumbling block for Liverpool.

Liverpool's upcoming schedule presents them with a trip to Bournemouth, followed by a crucial home encounter against Chelsea. They will then face off against Arsenal and Burnley in subsequent matches. City, on the other hand, find themselves in a rather advantageous position with a game in hand against Brentford, which is yet to be rescheduled. A triumph in that encounter would bring them tantalizingly close, within a mere two points of Liverpool in the standings. 

As we cast our gaze towards the horizon, City's forthcoming quartet of fixtures offers promising opportunities against beatable adversaries. They are set to embark on an away battle against Newcastle, followed by a home clash with Burnley. Next on their agenda is a venture to Brentford, before returning to their home ground to face Everton. These contests present City with a favorable landscape to continue their pursuit of the title, ensuring that the pressure remains firmly applied to Liverpool's shoulders.

The question that lingers is whether Liverpool will still be in the thick of the title race by the time Salah makes his much-anticipated return for the trip to Brentford in February. The answer to this query remains uncertain, leaving Liverpool fans on tenterhooks. With bated breath, they will keep their fingers crossed.