Liverpool won 4-2 over Newcastle during the Premier League’s winter break.

The Reds return to league action on 21 January with a trip to Bournemouth, but there is cup action in the meantime.

This weekend, Liverpool will face Arsenal in one of the toughest FA Cup third round matches before the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Fulham.

The draw for club football’s oldest domestic cup competition was unkind to Jurgen Klopp’s side, who will travel to Arsenal for a rerun of a match played just a few weeks ago on December 23.

That game, of course, ended 1-1 thanks to a brilliant moment from Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian, on the other hand, will be unavailable for Sunday’s match in London because he will be in Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Klopp’s major concern in the coming weeks will be determining how to compensate for the loss of their most important attacker.

This is how he could line up against Arsenal.

GOALKEEPER & DEFENCE

Caoimhin Kelleher has been the Reds’ regular cup keeper in recent seasons, appearing in five Europa League and three League Cup games and making 223/24 saves. Under normal circumstances, he’d be a foregone conclusion in the FA Cup’s third round. Given Liverpool’s difficult draw, the league break, and the possibility that Kelleher will play against Fulham three days later, Alisson might start this one.

Expect a relatively strong defensive line in front of him.

Trent Alexander-Arnold might retain his right-back spot, with Ibrahim Konate joining Virgil van Dijk in the center.

With Joe Gomez as the only senior option at left back, 19-year-old Luke Chambers may be given a shot now, with the more experienced alternative saving his spot for the midweek semi-final.

Owen Beck, who was just recalled from Dundee, is another possibility. However, placing either youngster against Bukayo Saka is a risky bet.

MIDFIELD

This month’s international tournament is not the sole reason for Salah’s absence. Japan’s captain, Wataru Endo, will be missed in the midfield when he departs for the Asian Cup in Qatar.

Alexis MacAllister, who recovered from injury in the win against Newcastle, should return to Klopp’s starting lineup.

There are few guarantees in Liverpool’s midfield, but Dominik Szoboszlai, like Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic, is out with a hamstring injury sustained on New Year’s Day.

Curtis Jones, who has been impressive in recent matches, might keep his spot on the left side of the three. Harvey Elliott could also be present in the engine room.

ATTACK

Darwin Nuez has a goal and an assist in his last two games, but his finishing remains a concern as he accumulated an xG of 1.61 in the Reds’ win over Newcastle, the highest in a game without scoring.

The FA Cup could be an ideal opportunity to test the waters, with Cody Gakpo starting through the middle.

With both Szoboszlai and Ben Doak out injured, compensating for Salah’s absence becomes increasingly difficult. It’s impossible to predict Klopp’s reaction, given that the manager recently claimed that he would respond based on player availability game by game, rather than developing a master plan for the Egyptian’s absence.

Luis Diaz, who shone against Newcastle, could be shifted to the right wing on Sunday, with Diogo Jota taking his place on the left.

Kaide Gordon, 19, might make the bench nearly two years after scoring his only senior Reds goal against Shrewsbury in the FA Cup third round.

PREDICTED STARTING XI TO FACE ARSENAL:

(4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Chambers; Elliott, Mac Allister, Jones; Diaz, Gakpo, Jota