Klopp will not get new players to replace Liverpool’s African Nations players

Jurgen Klopp has ruled out entering the transfer market to buy new players to replace Liverpool players who will compete in the African Nations Cup.

When the competition begins in Cameroon, Liverpool will be without Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, Senegal winger Sadio Mane, and Guinea midfielder Naby Keita.

Klopp may be missing the trio from January 9 to February 6, putting Liverpool’s Premier League title aspirations in jeopardy.

However, the Reds manager, whose team plays Newcastle on Thursday, has no intentions to make stand-in additions when the transfer market opens on January 1.

“We knew three would be qualified and be there and we knew that at least two of them will go pretty far in the tournament,” Klopp told reporters on Wednesday.

“Can you be prepared for something like that, properly, perfectly? Like a one-for-one replacement for Sadio, a replacement for Mo, one replacement for Naby?

“That’s tricky in each situation but I am happy with the squad and we have options to play and still to play football.

“We are quite confident we will find solutions.”

Klopp admits that Liverpool may not be at their best without Salah, who has been in magnificent form this season, and Mane, who has returned to form following a slump last season.

He believes, though, that they will find a way to win games in order to remain in a tight championship chase with leaders Manchester City and European champions Chelsea.

“Whoever will play in the period when the three boys are not here, will have a plan, and gives us a chance to win a football game,” Klopp said.

“Can we play exactly the same kind of football? Probably not – but who cares? Then we play the football we are able to play then.

“You cannot always have the perfect solution. In this case we are far away from being the perfect solution without these players but we knew it and we now we have to deal with it.”