Liverpool boss Klopp says moving Africa Cup of Nations to January is ‘catastrophe’ as he’ll lose Salah, Mane and Keita

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp has bemoaned Cameroon's decision to move the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations from June to January.

In 2017 the call had been made to permanently shift the tournament from taking place in January to the European summer.

The 2019 edition in Egypt was the first AFCON to take place in June and July.

But 2021 hosts Cameroon have decided to stage the tournament in January and February - much to the ire of Klopp.

Speaking ahead of his side's match with Manchester United on Sunday, the German had his say on the matter - even suggesting that it may affect whether Liverpool recruit more African players.

He said: ""If we have to make a decision about bringing in a player, it is a massive one.

"You know for four weeks you don't have them. As a club you have to think about this. It doesn't help African players.

"I couldn't respect the Africa Cup of Nations more than I do because I like the competition and watched it a lot in the past. It's a very interesting tournament.

"But, it's an obvious problem that you play a tournament in the middle of the season, although it makes more sense for Africa to play it in our winter when the weather is better for them - I get that.

"But we have absolutely no power - so if we did say 'We don't let him go', the player is suspended.

"If a player is injured and cannot play for us we have to send him to Africa and they have a look and in one or two weeks they are back. Nowadays, it should not be like this."

The tournament taking place in the European winter now means that it won't clash with the newly-reformed Club World Cup competition, due to take place in China.

The likes of Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita and Sadio Mane are set to be involved in both tournaments for club and country.