Cody Gakpo makes honest admission about forwards' goal situation

Cody Gakpo believes Liverpool have enough firepower to continue their quest for the Premier League title in the absence of Mohamed Salah, who is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt next month.

Salah has been the Reds' most prolific attacker this season with 16 goals in all competitions, but Liverpool will be without the 31-year-old after Newcastle United's trip to Anfield as he seeks continental glory with his national team.

Liverpool ended 2023 on a high after a 2-0 win against Burnley thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota as they find themselves at the top of the Premier League standings after 19 games played. Gakpo has no concerns about Salah's absence next month, as he praised Nunez and Jota for getting their names on the scoresheet against the Clarets.

Speaking after the game, he said (quotes via Liverpool Echo): "For every attacking player who didn't score for a few games, it's always nice to get back on the scoresheet and he [Nunez] did it today with a very good goal.

"For Diogo as well, when you are injured and you come back and score, that's always nice and good for the confidence. So I'm really happy. Mo is gone after the Newcastle game so we need the goals. It was a good start, after that a good goal and a few good chances but we [killed off] the game quite late but overall a good win."

Gakpo has scored seven goals in all competitions for Liverpool this season, but only two of those have come in the Premier League, indicating that he hasn't been at his best in front of goal. With Salah set to be absent for 3-5 weeks based on how Egypt fare at the AFCON, January is the perfect time for the rest of Liverpool's forward line to take on more responsibility in their quest for the league title.