Odegaard - yes
Saka - maybe
Saliba - yes
Rice - maybe
What say ye AWIMB?
Over an extended period, we would really struggle without Saka. While Odegaard is essential to how we play, Saka is comfortably our biggest goal and creative threat. On his good days he is totally unplayable. On his bad days, he still creates real problems for opponents. And he doesn't have too many bad days.
It is undeniable that our results would definitely suffer if our best players were out for an extended period, but it is evidently true of everyone else. That's all I meant by saying it is a silly point. Look at what has happened to City without Rodri, and it isn't even new. Over the last few years there is a marked difference in their results with and without him. And that is just one player, and in one of the best sides the Premier League has ever seen. Take Salah out of the Liverpool side for the next 10 games and see what happens.
I have a feeling we would cope ok without Saliba, although mainly if White was fit.