It's definitely not the ideal preparation.
Jurgen Klopp will allow two of his star players to attend an awards ceremony in Africa on the eve of Liverpool's FA Cup third round clash with Everton.
James Pearce of the
Liverpool Echo reports that the Reds boss has given the green light for both Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane to be in Ghana on January 4, when they will battle it out for the honour of the Confederation of African Football Player of the Year.
Salah and Mane are part of a three-man shortlist for the accolade, along with Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but they will have to immediately travel 3,500 miles back to Merseyside to arrive on the same day they host the Toffees at Anfield.
A private plane will be hired to return two of Klopp's fab four safe and sound just hours before kick-off but supporters are concerned that seven hours on a plane which will land on the morning of a huge game such as the Merseyside derby is not the best way for two of Liverpool's most important players to prepare.
https://twitter.com/mainstandred/status/942862477955620864
https://twitter.com/Christian_Dyer/status/942853317595680770
https://twitter.com/jbotts85/status/942891727735672832
Salah is currently favourite for the award, having taken to Liverpool life like a duck to water with 20 goals and four assists across all competitions already this season.
The Egypt international opened the scoring in the most recent Merseyside derby, a 1-1 draw in the Premier League last week.
