“If I wish you good luck, it would be a lie….I would be happy with group stage exit,” Klopp says on Mohammed Salah’s AFCON duty

In order to expedite Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo’s comeback, Jurgen Klopp acknowledged that he would be content if Egypt and Japan were to lose in the group stages of both the Asian Cup and the AFCON.

Because of their participation in continental competitions, Mohamed Salah and Endo may be absent from Liverpool for up to more than a month.

Despite losing the previous AFCON and Asian Cup finals, both players are seen as heavy favorites to win the crowns for the first time when they captain their teams in Ivory Coast and Qatar.

Salah and Endo might return to Liverpool in the middle of February if Egypt and Japan qualify for the semi-finals, which made Klopp not wish them too much luck.

“I said if I wish you good luck it would be a lie,” Klopp said ahead of the FA Cup tie at Arsenal.

“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.”

The AFCON will commence on January 13, 2024 in Cote D’Ivoire.