WATCH: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s HUMOROUS ‘goodbye’ to Wataru Endo and Mohamed Salah – ‘Wishing good luck would be a lie’

Jurgen Klopp hopes Endo and Salah return safely, fit!

WATCH: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s HUMOROUS ‘goodbye’ to Wataru Endo and Mohamed Salah – ‘Wishing good luck would be a lie’

Jurgen Klopp jokes about Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo's absence. (Image via GOAL, screengrab from the video via Sky Sports)

Liverpool currently sit at the top of the Premier League, with a gap of three points over Aston Villa. After a disastrous 2022/23 season, they have recovered and found themselves at the top of the league. Unfortunately, they are now taking a massive hit as they lose 2 key players. 

Winger Mohamed Salah and midfielder Wataru Endo will be leaving for a month to represent their countries, Egypt and Japan. Egypt is participating in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, while Japan are playing in the AFC Asian Cup. Jurgen Klopp is now without his highest goal-scorer and his only defensive midfielder. They will have big fixtures like their FA Cup tie with Arsenal, and League Cup semi-final and need to face Arsenal and Chelsea. 

YouTube video

In the pre-match press conference for their FA Cup match, Klopp revealed that he wanted Japan and Egypt to be knocked out as soon as possible. He further added that he knew it wasn’t possible, so just wished Endo and Salah to go on win their respective tourneys and return back safely.

FS Video
I said if I wish you good luck it would be a lie. From a personal point of view, I would be happy if they go out in the group stage but that’s probably not possible. They can go on and win it. So it was ‘good luck and come back healthy’. We have to deal with it and we will deal with it. I am pretty positive that we will find a way.
Jurgen Klopp on Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo

They go into their FA Cup cup tie without key stars like Joel Matip, Dominik Szobozlai, and Andy Robertson. Their opponents, Arsenal, are in a bit of a slump, winning only 1 out of their 5 matches, hence losing the top stop in the Premier League.

Liverpool & Jurgen Klopp target center-backs in the January transfer market 

As the club plays without the injured Joel Matip, the club has begun the search for a new center-back in the transfer market. They currently have three fit starters, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahim Konate, and Jarell Quansah. They have already recalled Rhys Williams and Nat Phillps from loan, with Klopp saying the two will stay for a month. 

Lenny Yoro and Goncalo Inacio
Lenny Yoro and Goncalo Inacio are Liverpool targets. (Images via TEAMtalk)

They have identified Lenny Yoro from Lille and Goncalo Inacio from Sporting Lisbon as targets. Multiple reports suggest that Liverpool have already bid €26 million for Inacio, but will be fighting Arsenal for his signature.

Despite Endo leaving for the AFC Asian Cup, the club will not be searching for another defensive midfielder. There’s a belief in the camp that Endo is solid as a 6, and with Stefan Bajtec returning, they will not be going for a new defensive midfielder. 

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