AFCON 2023: I want Salah and Egypt to crash out at the group stage - Jurgen Klopp
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Klopp is wishing Egypt and Mo Salah hard luck in AFCON |Photo Credit: Imago

AFCON 2023: I want Salah and Egypt to crash out at the group stage - Jurgen Klopp

Asukwo Oduo 12:20 - 05.01.2024

Jurgen Klopp has not hidden his desire for Egypt to crash out early at the AFCON so Mo Salah can return to Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has openly expressed his opinion on how he feels about Mo Salah leaving the Merseyside club to represent Egypt at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

Klopp was speaking to the media ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup game against Arsenal - a match they will execute without the services of the influential Egyptian.

Mo Salah recently joined an illustrious group of Premier League legends who have scored 150 goals and more for just a single club. 

Salah is also Liverpool’s highest goal scorer this season with 18 goals, accounting for over 30% of the goals the Merseyside outfit has bagged so far. 

Jurgen Klopp sends goodbye message to Salah

Mo Salah in action for Liverpool in a league game against Chelsea |Pulsesports.ng
Mo Salah in action for Liverpool in a league game against Chelsea |Photo Credit: Imago

While sending his goodbye message to one of the star players in his squad, Klopp did not hide his desire to have his talisman back as soon as possible - wishing Egypt to crash out early duirng the African Cup of Nations.   

Aside Mo Salah, Liverpool will also lose Japan captain Wataru Endo to the Asian Cup. Both players will miss key matches for Liverpool and can even be out for a month if both Japan and Egypt get to the finals of their respective international competitions.

However, Jurgen Klopp has expressly stated that he doesn’t want them to go that far in their respective competitions. 

"I said if I wish them good luck it would be a lie. Hopefully, they are out in the group stages but it's not likely possible.

"Hopefully they can come back healthy. I am pretty positive we will find a way [to replace them] but we have to show that," The Daily Express quoted Klopp.

Klopp’s plan on Salah’s replacement

The ex-Borussia Dortmund coach was asked which player he plans to use to deputise for Mo Salah while he’s away on international duty. 

"I think we played against West Ham with Harvey [Elliott] there and we have different defensive options. Other players can play on the wing but maybe not like Mo, it's not possible.

"We use the boys and their skills and that is the idea behind it. Do we want to play without Mo? No. But we will find a way. Of course we play Arsenal and we can lose with Mo Salah but at the moment we have a chance to win the game, so we think about that," Klopp said.     

Seven-time winners Egypt will open their AFCON campaign with a clash against Mozambique on Sunday, January 14th.