Liverpool to lose second crucial player for weeks during Salah's AFCON absence

22 December 2023 , 02:00

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Liverpool to lose second crucial player for weeks during Salah's AFCON absence

Liverpool will be forced to wave goodbye to Wataru Endo in the New Year as he jets off to the Asia Cup.

The Japan international, who was a summer signing from the Bundesliga, has been regularly used by Jurgen Klopp but will be unavailable for a prolonged period as he attempts to help his country claim continental glory. Already the Reds will lose Mohamed Salah, and now Endo adds to their selection woes.

Japan's tournament begins on January 14 as they face Vietnam. They will also take on Indonesia and Iraq having been drawn with them in Group D. Endo's nation are strongly fancied to make the knockouts and, should they make it to the final, the midfielder will be missing until February 10.

That is a similar time period in which Salah will be absent. The Egyptian forward will head to the Africa Cup of Nations which runs from January 13 to February 11. The tournament, which will be held in the Ivory Coast, gives Salah a chance to avenge his country's final defeat last time out.

The Pharaohs are in Group B with Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique and their first game is against the latter on January 14. If Egypt reach the final Salah will be on international duty until February 11. Endo stands to miss the same games as Salah as Liverpool look to keep their season on track.

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Liverpool travel to Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup on January 7, which both men should be present for. After that Endo and Salah will likely have left and they begin that period against Fulham in the first-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on January 9 with the return game coming on January 23.

Wataru Endo will target Asia Cup glory with Japan (Philip Bryan/REX/Shutterstock)

Their Premier League assignments see them travel to Bournemouth on January 21 before hosting Chelsea ten days later. They then face Arsenal at the Emirates on February 4 and host Burnley on February 10. Endo and Salah are set to have returned for the game with Brentford on February 17.

Losing Salah for the AFCON is not something that will be new to Klopp who has seen the Egyptian jet off midseason in the past. He also has a raft of attacking options to call upon including Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo.

Endo meanwhile has played 21 times in all competitions, starting on 14 occasions. Midfield is another area where Liverpool can cope with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch all options whilst young prospects could also be handed minutes.

Samuel Meade