The Africa Cup of Nations has been confirmed to take place during the domestic campaign, meaning Liverpool will suffer for the second time in two years from a mid-season tournament.

Only at the beginning of 2022 did Jurgen Klopp have to play without Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Naby Keita because of when the AFCON was scheduled to take place.

Thankfully, Liverpool’s campaign did not falter in their absence, and with just one representative left in the team, they will hope for the same in 2024.

Salah’s presence in the Ivory Coast will cause him to miss some games for the Reds as Salah’s Egypt are currently in first place in their qualification group for the competition of next year.

The contest was moved to the winter and will begin on January 13 and end on February 11 due to the Ivory Coast’s summer months’ heavy rain.

Although the dates of the tournament have been known for some time, they serve as another reminder of what Liverpool can expect in 2023–2024.

Salah and co. departed for the tournament less than a week before it began, and another similar timeframe will undoubtedly be sought to minimize the amount of time away.

Further reducing the number of games Salah might be expected to miss is the Premier League midseason break, which will occur between January 13 and January 20. We will learn more about this when the fixtures are revealed on June 15.

The 30-year-old skipped five Liverpool games while representing his country at the previous AFCON, where his team lost to Senegal’s Mane’s Senegal in the championship game.

More concerningly, though, is the fact that it will add to a schedule that already includes more than 4,000 minutes for Liverpool alone in each of his six seasons to date.

One of his best qualities is his availability, but there will come a point where he reaches a breaking point, and the Reds will have to manage and prevent it.

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One of four players that could be ideal for new Liverpool strategies is the Man Utd target.

In this summer’s transfer window, Liverpool and Manchester United might share the same thoughts.

Jurrien Timber is reportedly Erik ten Hag’s top target, so Manchester United will likely bolster their defensive unit this summer. The success of Jurgen Klopp’s subtle formation change toward the end of the season has led Liverpool to the conclusion that they are also in the market for a new central defender this summer.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fabinho moved into midfield as a result of the system change, while Andy Robertson moved into a more central position alongside Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate. While Robertson struggled to make the same impact further back, Alexander-Arnold flourished in his new position.

In the new system, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez are still options for Klopp, but reports have suggested that Liverpool will look for a different central defender to give him another choice. Given that Timber is not the only player who could possibly fit perfectly into Klopp’s system, United and Liverpool may have to compete with one another in the transfer market.

Express Sport examines three additional players who have been connected to a move to Old Trafford and who would also be useful to Liverpool.

Josko Gvardol.

The Croatian international is what Klopp needs and would be the ideal addition to Liverpool. They don’t come much better than Gvardiol if Liverpool wants to stick with their strategy of pursuing young, highly regarded players.

In order to possibly cover for Robertson in the new system, Klopp will also likely be searching for a left-sided center-back. However, Liverpool’s only concern would be the sum required to wrest him from RB Leipzig.

According to reports, the German team is looking for an offer for the center-back that exceeds £85 million, which could rule Liverpool out of the running.

Kim Min-Kae

Kim, who was named the best center-back in Serie A this past season, was essential in assisting Napoli in capturing their first league championship since 1990. He only moved from Fenerbahce to the Italian team a year ago, and at a cost of about £15 million, it is now regarded as a tremendous bargain.

At 26 years old, Kim has a little more experience than Gvardiol, but he would be available for a lot less money because of a release clause in his contract. United are thought to be the favorites to sign him, but Liverpool will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on his situation.

RCB Axel Disasi.
The Frenchman’s talents are unaffected by the fact that he is the least expensive of the four options on this list. According to reports, a deal to bring the Monaco defender to Old Trafford is almost complete, and the French club is seeking a transfer fee of about £35 million.

Disasi, who plays center back primarily on the right side, has recently received high praise in France. Disasi’s skills would make him difficult to pass up as a centre-back signing if the opportunity arose, even though he wouldn’t exactly fit what Liverpool needs in that position.