Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is not happy with the return of the Africa Cup of Nations to January and February, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report

After the tournament was played in the summer for the first time in 2019, it will return to its original period of January and February for the 2021 edition due to hot weather condition in host Cameroon in the month of June-July.

Liverpool have three key players who are likely to represent their countries if they qualify for the 2021 AFCON, but Klopp is not liking the impending agony of losing Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita for about 10 matches in four weeks.

“The Africa Cup of Nations going back to January is, for us, a catastrophe.

“On top of that, we have absolutely no power so if we did say ‘We don’t let him go’ the player is suspended. How is that possible that the company who pays the player cannot decide that the player has to stay or not?

“If you would say ‘Let’s play the African Cup of Nations but the players play in other countries, not in Africa, it still would be a great tournament but not the superstars but the superstars of tomorrow.

“I don’t say that would be a solution for it but it is strange we have absolutely no say. We just sit there and plan the route, the flight for the boys, and say ‘There you go, have the boys’.

“Nowadays it should not be like this. But I speak here about it and no-one will listen. It is like the biggest waste of time ever. The Moaner from Liverpool or whatever it is again, on track. As long as nothing changes I will say it all the time.”

Mane led Senegal to the final of the 2019 AFCON where they lost to Algeria.