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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he is not hoping for his star players Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo to go far in their respective continental tournaments, as he faces a challenging period without them.
Salah, who has scored 19 goals in 21 games for Liverpool this season, is representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, while Endo, who has been a key midfielder for the Reds, is leading Japan at the Asian Cup in Qatar.
Both tournaments run until February 6, meaning that Klopp could be without two of his best performers for up to seven matches, including crucial clashes against Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City in the Premier League.
Klopp said he was proud of his players for representing their countries, but joked that he was not wishing them too much luck.
"I told them to enjoy it, but not too much," Klopp said at a press conference on Friday. "Of course, I want them to do well, but not to win it. That would be too long for us."
Klopp said he was confident that his squad had enough depth and quality to cope with the absence of Salah and Endo, but acknowledged that it would be a difficult task.
"It's a big challenge for us, no doubt about it," he said. "They are two very important players for us, and we will miss them a lot. But we have other players who can step up and show their quality. We have to deal with it as a team and find solutions."
Klopp said he was in regular contact with Salah and Endo, and praised their professionalism and commitment.
"They are both fantastic players and fantastic people," he said. "They are very focused on their national teams, but they also care about Liverpool. They keep me updated on how they are doing, and they always ask about the team. They are very supportive and loyal."
Klopp said he hoped that Salah and Endo would return to Liverpool in good shape and good spirits, and that they would be ready to help the team in the final stages of the season.
"We will welcome them back with open arms," he said. "They are part of our family, and we are very proud of them. We hope they will come back healthy and happy, and that they will be able to contribute to our goals. We have a lot to play for, and we need them."
