Mohamed Salah has warned his Liverpool team-mates they can ill-afford to drop many more points in the Premier League title race despite being hot on the heels of leaders Arsenal.
Salah scored Liverpool’s equaliser in Saturday’s barnstorming clash at Anfield between the two sides after Gabriel’s opener, and the hosts could have won it had Trent Alexander-Arnold’s strike been a few inches lower after the Reds star clattered the crossbar.
While a draw was not the worst result for Jurgen Klopp’s side after trailing Mikel Arteta’s men, it does mean Liverpool have now dropped four points in their last two games, following the disappointing 0-0 draw with Manchester United last weekend.
Liverpool know all too well how every point can make a difference as the title race reaches its conclusion after being pipped by Manchester City on the final day twice previously. And Salah has now fired a cautionary messaged to his colleagues that they must collect the maximum from as many of their remaining games as possible if they want to lift the trophy come May.
Posting on social media on Christmas Eve after the dust had settled on Liverpool’s draw with Arsenal, the Egyptian forward wrote: “We know we can’t keep dropping points like this and we will keep fighting to do better.”
It was a sentiment shared by captain Virgil van Dijk, who insists Liverpool will put up a stern challenge for the title over the back half of the season. “City are a very good team as well, but Arsenal will be up there,” he said. “We hope to be up there – we will really push them.”
One major blow to Liverpool’s hopes will be losing Salah for several weeks in January as he competes for Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations. The 31-year-old will depart to meet up with his country after Liverpool’s clash with Newcastle on New Year’s Day and could end up missing seven fixtures across all competitions if Egypt reach the final.
He will definitely be away for the FA Cup third round clash with Arsenal on January 7, as well as both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final with Fulham. If Egypt fail to get out the group stage, Salah could return having only missed the away trip to Bournemouth in the Premier League.
However, should they progress, Salah could also miss the home tie with Chelsea, the away clash with Arsenal – which could have huge ramifications for where the title goes in May – as well as the visit of Burnley, who are Liverpool’s opponents on Boxing Day.
