“Real warriors” – Jurgen Klopp showers praises on Mo Salah and Sadio Mane ahead of the 2021 AFCON final; giving their possible return date

“Real warriors” – Jurgen Klopp showers praises on Mo Salah and Sadio Mane ahead of the 2021 AFCON final; giving their possible return date.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has showered praise on the reds attacking forwards  Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Both wingers have immensely contributed by leading their respective countries into the 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final. Salah has scored twice and assisted once for Egypt while Mane has recorded three goals and two assists for Senegal.

The two teams will be facing each other in the final of the tournament tonight, set to take place at the newly built 60,000 seater Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé Cameroon.

On the same date, Liverpool will host Cardiff City in an FA Cup fourth-round clash. Ahead of the match, Klopp was asked by the press how he would deal with Salah and Mane’s return to Anfield.

Klopp responded (as quoted by the Liverpool Echo):

“I’m not the type of guy who thinks everything will be a problem. Both players had a successful tournament and we will see the same situation next year, in late November and early December, the same when everybody is coming back from the World Cup.”

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will face each other in the finals of the AFCON. ( Photo credit: Getty Images)

Klopp was also asked whether the duo would be physically and mentally ready to be thrown into action immediately after returning.

Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah could return in time for Liverpool’s next league fixture

Liverpool will certainly be without Salah and Mane for the clash against Cardiff. However, both forwards could be back the squad for their next Premier League outing.

Liverpool FC will host Leicester City on February 10 and a win would take them to within six points of league leaders Manchester City.

Klopp would ideally like to have his two-star forwards for what could prove to be a tricky contest. However, he stated that the decision will be made later, saying:
“I can imagine both will want to play, against Leicester, both will want to be involved, want to score goals, and want to win football games for Liverpool. That’s how it is.

“We have a few days until we have to make that decision. I didn’t think too much about it because the boys will come back and then we’ll talk.”

In other news, Liverpool new signing Luis Daiz talks about representing the Reds in the UEFA Champions League