Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has said he will be happy if Egypt crash out in the group stages of the AFCON 2023
Star player, Mohamed Salah is away with Egypt for the tournament in Ivory Coast which will start on January 13.
If Egypt and Japan impress at the AFCON and Asian nations cup respective tournaments, that could mean Salah and Endo will not be back until the second week in February.
Speaking about the absence of the two players, Klopp said he sent them on their way this week without wishing them too much success.
“I said if I wish you good luck it would be a lie,” Klopp said ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup third-round tie at Arsenal on Sunday
“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.”
Klopp does not really have a suitable replacement for Salah, who plays on the right side of his attack and has scored 18 goals in all competitions this season.
Midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was touted as a potential option but he has been ruled out for at least two matches with a hamstring injury sustained in the New Year’s Day win over Newcastle.
But Klopp, whose side are top of the Premier League, is confident Liverpool can fill the hole left by Salah.
“I think we played against West Ham (in last month’s League Cup quarter-final) without Mo on that side and Harvey Elliott played there,” he said.
“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.”
16 Responses
It will never happen salah will play to semi final before they crash out kloop lol
Prepare yourself well and develop better tactics to play and stop thinking evil
This coach is trying to discriminate. If wishes were to horses ???? blogers would have ride them, may your wishes come to pass
As what why do you want them to crash out this is championship tou
You don’t wish failure to others is just a game and meant to unite us.
gob please i ask for more sports stories because this is more interesting than these boring entertainment news
kloop use elliott abi he is fit
Imagine the level of selfishness and self centredness. Thinking only about his club’s performance at africa’s expense.
Am a lover of sport, please more sport news ohhh i like this!
So because of Salah now you are praying such prayers,don’t worry,God will disappoint you,don’t be surprised to see Egypt in the final
You people are gaining nothing by letting African to lose
last afcon u said afcon na small tournament now u want egypt to be eliminated in the 1st stage
klopp i thought this your selfish attitude don go
gob abeg more sports stories
Klopp said he sent them on their way this week without wishing them too success.
Wahala sef he no want he star player make he go afcon what a pity wahala
What will you gain if Africa lose so stop this nonsense
These European are hypocrite when it comes to African players. And they behave as if they don’t need African.
jurgen u make me laugh with your comments about afcon
i know say na salah de make u talk all this