Jurgen Klopp admitted he would be happy for Egypt and Japan to exit the AFCON and the Asian Cup in the group stages if it would mean the quick return of Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo.
Liverpool could go up to more than one month without the services of Mohamed Salah and Endo due to the players’ involvement in the continental competitions.
Both players will captain their countries in Ivory Coast and Qatar and are considered huge favourites to lift the titles for the first time, having lost the finals of the previous AFCON and Asian Cups.
A semi-final qualification for Egypt and Japan can see Salah and Endo return to Liverpool mid-way through February, which led Klopp to 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.”