Klopp has joked that he hopes Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo suffer premature international exits when pondering how to replace the Egyptian
The pair both started in the Reds’ 4-2 victory over Newcastle United on New Year’s Day
they will now likely be unavailable for Liverpool for over a month as they depart to represent Egypt and Japan
They leave with the Reds top of the Premier League table, preparing for an FA Cup third round trip to Arsenal, and in the League Cup semi-finals against Fulham
while Klopp teased he would like the pair available, he wished them luck
Klopp
“I said if I wish you good luck it would be a lie (laughs)!”
“No, I do obviously (wish them luck), but from a personal point of view I would be overly happy if they go out in the group stages but it is probably not possible.
“It’s fine, they can go and win it as well. So good luck, see you and come back healthy. That’s pretty much the words.
“Now we have to deal with it and we will deal with it. Of course you see the recent games and think, ‘Okay, that looks a bit strange,’ but I am pretty positive that we will find a way. But we have to show that on the pitch.”
While Salah is unavailable, the rest of Liverpool’s attacking options are ready for action after the Reds recently welcomed back Diogo Jota
With Harvey Elliott also an option, Klopp hinted how he intends to replace the Egyptian this month.
Klopp said
“Not really a lot (of preparation without Salah), I think we played against West Ham without Mo on that side when Harvey played there,”
"We all know in the moment, hopefully it stays that way, we have different offensive options who can all play that wing in a different way.
“Nobody, not Harvey, not anybody else who plays that wing, should play like Mo. It is not possible so we just have to find another way and have to use the boys with their skills. That’s exactly the idea behind.
“Do we want to play without Mo? No, but if we have to. In the past we didn’t have to do it that often but we always found a way to get through these periods. I’m pretty sure we’ll be fine.
“But of course we play Arsenal. At Arsenal, you can lose with Mo Salah so it is possible as well you lose without him. But in the moment we have a chance to win the game so I think we should more think about that.”
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