Jurgen Klopp is not happy with the decision to hold the AFCON in January and February in 2021.
The competition had previously decided to change from a mid-season running to the summer, to be in line with other major international tournaments.
But due to a number of reasons, including the weather in Cameroon and the fact the World Cup is being held mid-season in 2022, plans have reverted.
The best two players on the continent, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah, both play for Liverpool – and it’s going to rock us next term – before mentioning Naby Keita’s participation for Guinea.
Klopp says that this decision will now influence decisions in the transfer market, knowing that a new signing will be absent for a key part of the season every two years.
It’s also a gamble whether or not the Reds will buy players to cover for Mane and Salah in their absence – although that’s some way off.
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“If we have to make a decision about bringing in a player, it is a massive one,” said Klopp.
“You know for four weeks you don’t have them. As a club you have to think about this. It doesn’t help African players.
“I couldn’t respect the Africa Cup of Nations more than I do because I like the competition and watched it a lot in the past. It’s a very interesting tournament,” added Klopp.
“But, it’s an obvious problem that you play a tournament in the middle of the season, although it makes more sense for Africa to play it in our winter when the weather is better for them – I get that.
“But we have absolutely no power – so if we did say ‘We don’t let him go’, the player is suspended.
“If a player is injured and cannot play for us we have to send him to Africa and they have a look and in one or two weeks they are back. Nowadays, it should not be like this.”
