While the Egyptian fans are all hyped up ahead of another AFCON, the mood in Liverpool is quite the opposite. The tournament which starts next Saturday and will last until February 11th will gather around the best African players and Europe is weeping, with Jurgen Klopp among them. Liverpool’s coach will be without Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo as well, as the Japanese will be the captain of his selection in the upcoming Asian Cup, which ends on February 10th. Salah has played in 27 games in all competition so far, scoring in 18 and assisting with nine goals, while the defensive midfielder from Stuttgart played just two games less, so their absence will be felt. Mohamed Salah in the Premier League so far this season:◉ Most G/A◉ Most xG/A◉ Most shots on target◉ Most Big Chances scored◉ Most Big Chances created◉ Most open-play chances created◉ Most touches in opp. box◎ =Most goals◎ =Most assistsMo(st) Salah. 👑 pic.twitter.com/NYZ8JaD7I2— Squawka (@Squawka) January 1, 2024 In fact, Klopp was so honest, that he admitted, while speaking at the press conference ahead of a duel with Arsenal in the FA Cup, that he would like for both players to be eliminated as soon as possible and come back to England. Of course, given the strength of those teams, this wish of his is quite unreal. Egypt went on to the final last year, while Japan is among the favourites for the Cup this season and they were runners-up in 2019. “I said if I wish them good luck it would be a lie. From a personal point of view, I would be happy if they go out in the group stage but that’s probably not possible. They can go on and win it. So it was ‘good luck and come back healthy’. We have to deal with it and we will deal with it. I am pretty positive that we will find a way” said the German. Went on a season-long loan, returns nine games later: Liverpool takes back CarvalhoKlopp also acknowledged that the Reds do have a replacement for the Egyptian but admitted that nobody can play like Salah. “I think we played against West Ham in last month’s Carabao Cup quarter-final without Mo on that side and Harvey Elliott played there. We have different offensive options who can all play that wing in a different way. Nobody else can play like Mo, it is not possible – we just have to use the boys with their skills. Do we want to play without Mo? No. In the past we didn’t have to do it often but we always found a way. But we play Arsenal and you can lose to Arsenal with Mo Salah so it’s possible to lose to them without him” he said. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7781619##
