Jurgen Klopp has described the decision to hold the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in January as a ‘catastrophe’ for Liverpool.

The arrangements for next year’s tournament were confirmed on Wednesday, after it was held in the summer last year.

It means Liverpool are likely going to have to make do without Naby Keita, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane for a chunk of next season.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Klopp didn’t hold back in his opinion, admitting the change in schedule acts as a big blow to his plans:

For us, a catastrophe in that moment, losing three players.

On top of that, we have absolutely no power. The company who pays the player, cannot decide.

Read Liverpool Verdict

I think it’s a poor decision not to hold the Africa Cup of Nations in the summer, as is the case with the World Cup and European Championships.

To disrupt teams’ seasons is far from ideal, and from a Liverpool perspective, their 2020/21 Premier League title challenge could suffer because of it.

It also means weighing up whether or not to sign African players becomes an issue, in my opinion, considering they could miss around six weeks of the campaign.

All in all, I think it makes little to no sense and Klopp is correct in airing his views on the matter.

It genuinely is hard to find positives surrounding the decision.

Is Klopp the best manager in the world?

Yes

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