Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has said his prayer is for Egypt to crash out in the group stages of the AFCON 2023 and Asian Cup respectively.

Mohamed Salah is away with Egypt for the tournament in Ivory Coast which will start on January 13.

Also, Japan captain Wataru Endo will be involved at the Asian Cup in Qatar,

If Egypt and Japan impress at the respective tournaments, that could mean Salah and Endo will not be back until the second week in February.

Commenting on the absence of the two players, Klopp said he sent them on their way this week without wishing them too much success.

“I said if I wish you good luck it would be a lie,” Klopp said ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup third-round tie at Arsenal on Sunday.

“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.”

Klopp does not really have a suitable replacement for Salah, who plays on the right side of his attack and has scored 18 goals in all competitions this season.