Maybe coach Jurgen Klopp secretly hoped that Senegal or Egypt might crash out earlier from the AFCON so he can get one of his players back early. But, in reality, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are playing for the two best African sides and will decide who is the best tonight. And the German tactician will have to wait one more game, against Cardiff in the FA Cup 4th round before he welcomes his forwards back in Liverpool.AFCON 2021: Reds will be glued to their TV screens – but there won’t be a Liverpool game onAfter the FA Cup duel, next game for the Reds will be at Enfield on Thursday against Leicester, and Klopp says he will check out his players to see if they need any additional rest after a strong tournament, but in his heart he knows they will need none.“These two boys are real warriors. They are constantly ready. They are both not worried about holiday, about days off and stuff like this. I never heard them ask anything about having time off. I never did. Both players had a successful tournament and we will see the same situation next year, in late-November and early-December, exactly the same when everybody is coming back from the World Cup. There is one winner, maybe two or three winners and all the rest lost. That is the world we created for these boys. When they come back we have to talk and we will see if they need anything. If they need a day off or two days off, whatever these kind of things. They are our boys and we will do everything to help them through all the different situations. That’s how it always was” said Klopp ahead of Cardiff game.If you’re having a bad day, just remember Man United signed Maguire for more money than Salah and Mane combined. pic.twitter.com/4hAh2S47IK— FootballFunnys (@FootballFunnnys) February 4, 2022 Asked by the journalists if there is a competition between Sane and Salah, the German pointed out at the other players in his squad.“Two or three years ago they were together and got the Golden Boot of the league. That was a really nice moment. Apart from that, do they have a competition? I know that Robbo and Trent, they have a competition for assists because if it would be for goals, Robbo would probably lose before the season starts. That’s a completely normal and natural thing. Diogo probably wants to score goals and, if possible, more than others. Bobby as well and people don’t think that about him. There’s no real competition but a little bit of competition is there for sure” explained Klopp.Giant-killing is spectacular – even when giants surviveJurgen Klopp’s men defeated League One outfit Shrewsbury Town in the previous round of the FA Cup, and now they face a Championship side Cardiff at Enfield. No extra motivation is needed, as the players only need to look at the results in the last two days, and see how United were defeated by Middleborough while Chelsea and West Ham needed extra time and penalties in order to advance.The Reds are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions and they’ll look to continue that form. Klopp has been handed a major boost over the last couple of weeks with the welcomed return of some key players, as well as the addition of Luis Diaz to the squad. Naby Keita returned from AFCON after his side were knocked out in the round of 16, while Divock Origi has also returned to full team training.FA CUPFourth Round FridayManchester United – Middlesbrough 0-0 (1-0)/Sancho 25 – Crooks 64/Middlesbrough win 8-7 on penalties.SaturdayKidderminster Harriers – West Ham United 1-2 AET, 1-1 (1-0)/Penny 19 – Rice 90+1, Bowen 120+1/Chelsea – Plymouth Argyle 2-1 AET, 1-1 (1-1)/Azpilicueta 41, Alonso 105+1 – Gillesphey 8/Stoke City – Wigan Athletic 2-0 (1-0)/Maja 14, Brown 62/Wolverhampton Wanderers – Norwich City 0-1 (0-1)/McLean 45+1/Manchester City – Fulham 4-1 (2-1)/Gundogan 6, Stones 13, Mahrez 53, 58 – Carvalho 4/Peterborough – QPR 2-0 (1-0)/Ward 25, Jones 72/Southampton – Coventry City 2-1 AET, 1-1 (0-1)/Armstrong 63, Walker-Peters 112 – Gyokeres 22/Crystal Palace – Hartlepool United 2-0 (2-0)/Guehi 4, Olise 22/Huddersfield – Barnsley 1-0 (1-0)/Holmes 19/Everton – Brentford 4-1 (1-0)/Mina 31, Richarlison 48, Holgate 62, Townsend 90+1 – Toney 54 pen/Cambridge – Luton 0-3 (0-2)/Burke 16, Gomez 23, Muskwe 88/Tottenham – Brighton 3-1 (2-0)/Kane 13,66,March 24 (og) – Bissouma 63/15.00: (1.15) Liverpool (7.75) Cardiff (18.0)19.00: (4.10) Nott.Forest (3.50) Leicester (1.92)21.30: (1.28) Bournemouth (5.50) Boreham Wood (11.0)***odds are subject of change
