Mohamed Salah has been ruled out for at least a fortnight after limping away from Liverpool’s Saturday victory over Leicester.
The Kop’s new darling wrote his name in the annals of the Anfield giants with two more goals, taking his tally in this debut campaign to 23 before the turn of the year.
No striker in the club’s history has ever scored more in a season before January 1 — not even legends such as Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler, Gordon Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish, Billy Liddell and Luis Suarez.
Roger Hunt did equal that total in 1961, but Liverpool were down in the second division at the time — making Salah’s achievement more impressive.
But even as he received post-match plaudits from boss Jurgen Klopp, Salah was being treated for a knee injury and won’t play away to Burnley on New Year’s Day.
The Egypt international will be allowed to travel to Ghana, along with club-mate Sadio Mane, later in the week to attend Thursday’s Confederation of African Football Player of the Year awards.
Both men are short-listed for the honour, with Salah favourite to win it.
It means Mane is also virtually certain to miss the FA Cup third-round showdown with derby rivals Everton, which takes place the following night.
Liverpool do not have another game after that until they host Manchester City on Sunday, January 14.
Salah will have further tests before flying out and is hoping the problem is not serious, leaving him in contention to play against table-toppers City.
Klopp praised the little forward, saying: “It is remarkable. That second goal against Leicester shows what confidence does. He is so physically strong.”
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