Goalscorer Salah confident Reds will cope without him during AFCON

Mohamed Salah is confident Liverpool will cope with his absence during the Africa Cup of Nations after scoring twice in a pulsating 4-2 win over Newcastle.

The Reds edged an entertaining clash at Anfield to earn a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League, with the Egyptian playing a starring role in his final game before jetting off to the Ivory Coast.

After Salah's 15th and 16th goals of the season — and his 150th in the competition for the Reds — some have expressed concern over how they will cope without their talisman for what could be up to a month.

But the forward feels his team-mates have enough quality to deliver while he is away.

Speaking about the AFCON to Sky Sports, Salah said: "I want to win this competition. I would love to win it. 

"Without me, I'm sure the team [Liverpool] will manage to win the games.

"We have fantastic players, really good quality and they just need to take the pressure away and play their football.

"Anyone can play in my position and anyone can do what I'm doing. We have a good system and everybody just needs to be free to express themselves.

"It means a lot to play for the national team. It's a great feeling every time you step on the pitch with the national jersey, it's something I cannot take for granted.

"I'm just happy to be there and I want to win it."

Salah saw a first-half penalty saved by Martin Dubravka before finally netting from the spot to seal the victory in the 86th minute after second-half goals from himself, Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo.

Despite that failed spot-kick coming alongside a raft of missed chances in a goalless first period, the 31-year-old insisted the Merseysiders were confident of eventually breaking through.

Salah added: "The players spoke in the dressing room. We have to stay calm. I missed the pen. I didn't want to leave with national team with that performance.

"It's a great result for us. The game was very intense and we managed to pick up three points and now we are top of the table. We need to stay calm and win every game."