‘It would be a lie’ – Jurgen Klopp’s message for Wataru Endo and Mohamed Salah ahead of AFCON and Asian Cup

Jurgen Klopp revealed his tongue-in-cheek departing message for Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo, as the pair headed to the Africa Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup respectively.

Salah and Endo will be representing Egypt and Japan in both competitions that begin next weekend, and Klopp is quietly hoping that the duo return earlier than expected from a selfish, Liverpool point of view.

"I said if I wish you good luck it would be a lie,” said Klopp in his pre-match press conference.

“From a personal point of view, I would not be overly unhappy if they went out in the group stage, but it is probably not possible.

"But no, it's fine, of course I would be happy for them to go on and win it. I said good luck and come back healthy - that is pretty much the words and that is it.

“Now we have to deal with it and we will deal with it. I am pretty positive we will find a way but obviously we have to show that on the pitch."

Salah has been in sparkling form for the Reds this season after scoring 18 goals in 27 appearances across all competitions, most recently netting a brace in a scintillating 4-2 win over Newcastle at Anfield.

However, Klopp insists the focus should not be on replacing Salah in the Egyptian’s absence and is focused on finding other ways to win.

"We played against West Ham without Mo on that right side and Harvey [Elliott] played there. We have different offensive options who can all play that wing in a different way,” he explained.

"No-one else who plays that wing should try to play like Mo, it's not possible, so we just have to find another way and use the boys to their skills.

"Do you want to play without Mo? No. In the past we didn't have to do it that often but we always found a way to get through these periods.

"I am pretty sure we will be fine but of course we play at Arsenal. At Arsenal you can lose with Mo Salah, so it is possible as well that we lose without him. But in the moment, we have a chance to win the game so I think we should more think about that."

The Reds begin their FA Cup campaign with a tantalising third-round tie against Arsenal on Sunday, before their League Cup semi-final first leg versus Fulham on Wednesday.

Despite the vigorous schedule, Klopp admits that he does not have the luxury to change his team around too much.

"I don't know if Arsenal is a game to rotate. I don't know if we have 100% the opportunity to do it. It's not as if we have the biggest squad available," he added.

"We have players available and we can line the team up 100%. A good team, and I think that is what we will do. If that looks then afterwards like rotation, then I don't know that.

"Three days later we have another game, that is true. But we can think about that game when the [FA Cup tie] is over. That is what we do usually. Both have the same importance - there is nothing in between. We want to win these games; we want to go to the final but we want to go to the next round as well."

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