Jurgen Klopp: "Losing a final is always really hard, I can sing that song, but losing the way they did was especially hard. He is happy to be back but is disappointed as well, massively so. We spoke about the tournament. He will deal with that of course"
Wednesday 9 February 2022 22:48, UK
Jurgen Klopp says Egypt's AFCON final loss is weighing heavily on Mohamed Salah's mind as he prepares to make his Liverpool return.
Salah's side lost to Reds team-mate Sadio Mane's Senegal on penalties in Sunday's final, with the current Premier League top-scorer not even getting the chance to take a spot-kick.
He was back in England the following day and trained with the Liverpool squad on Tuesday as he looks to get straight back into action against Leicester on Thursday.
"He's very disappointed, it was a massive thing," said Klopp.
"Losing a final is always really hard, I can sing that song, but losing the way they did was especially hard. He is happy to be back but is disappointed as well, massively so.
"We spoke about the tournament. He will deal with that of course. I hope today [Wednesday] will already be better but yesterday everyone could see he has the final on his mind.
"Is there greater determination for Mo? I am not sure that is human. I don't think there's a lot of space for more determination in Mo's mind. He will benefit off it and we will benefit off it."
Mane is due to return on Wednesday night following extended celebrations in his homeland but will not feature against Leicester.
"It's such a big thing, everybody saw the celebrations in Senegal," said Klopp. "We didn't want to stress anybody there and ask for Sadio to come back earlier.
"He should just enjoy it and come back as early as possible. I think it will be tonight."
Luis Diaz could make his Premier League bow against the Foxes, having impressed as a substitute in last weekend's FA Cup win over Cardiff City, and Klopp is expecting big things from the Colombian.
"I liked his contribution when he came on against Cardiff," said Klopp. "Yesterday he enjoyed his training session a lot, I'm not sure I ever saw a player smiling so constantly during a rondo.
"We could see he fitted in very naturally during the last game, positioning-wise he played exactly as we wanted him to. But that's only the starting point. There's a lot more to come."
Klopp admits he is in unfamiliar territory as his side continue to chase four trophies.
Deposing Premier League champions Manchester City looks the toughest task of the quartet as the second-placed Reds have some ground to recover.
Klopp is hopeful, however, if his team can get to the final five matches of the season still in with a chance then that is when they will start to consider it seriously.
Liverpool also face Inter Milan in the Champions League next week, Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final at the end of the month and Norwich at home in a FA Cup last-16 tie in early March.
"It's the first time in my life (of being in with a chance of winning four trophies) - in Germany, we only have two competitions plus the Champions League," said Klopp ahead of the visit of Leicester.
"It is a building block, always, until the 35th matchday and then there is a finishing block, so we are still building.
"At the beginning of the season, when you have a really good start or a really bad start, and you (the media) ask us 'What did you make of the start?' - it is a start, nothing else.
"Unless it is a catastrophe you have to deal with it and if it is a catastrophe someone else has to deal with it.
"We create a base for decisive moments in the season: I don't know exactly when that will be but we want to be in the different competitions as long as possible and in a position where the last three or four matchdays are interesting.
"I don't think it ever happened at this time of the year we were still in all four competitions, that's special.
"And we came through a really tricky situation, having two of the best strikers in the world (Salah and Mane) not available and Naby Keita a world-class midfielder not available, plus injuries.
"The boys did a good job and now we have to clear our minds with all freshness, desire and determination.
"We go now for the Premier League, we go into a Premier League game with all we have. That's the plan."
