Liverpool have a real problem after the CAF moved the Africa Cup of Nations to January. A stroke of fortune means they can fix what Jurgen Klopp calls a ‘catastrophe’.
The issue is clear to see. Liverpool have a world-class front-three but two of them won’t be available in January 2021. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are both going to be in Cameroon that month, competing for their continents biggest prize.
And then there’s Naby Keita – what if he’s there with Guinea? There’s even the outside chance of Joel Matip playing for the hosts.
No wonder Jurgen Klopp labelled it a ‘catastrophe’ on Friday (per the BBC).
Fortunately, Liverpool have had a stroke of fortune, really. They wouldn’t have known it but not spending money in the summer has really worked in their favour.
Liverpool had no idea whatsoever that the Africa Cup of Nations would move, of course. They won’t have envisioned it as a problem when making that decision to stick with what they had.
But because they didn’t spend, they have a lot more freedom to deal with it this summer. And deal with it they’ll have to.
Liverpool will need cover for Salah and Mane, in particular, and arguably Keita. Joe Gomez will, with any luck, be fine to cover Matip if that one comes to pass.
But attackers are a necessity. And attackers who can fill any void that Salah or Mane leave.
If the Reds had spent big last summer on players, they’d have less many and less space for any big arrivals. What if, hypothetically, they’d signed a player like Bruno Fernandes? It would have eaten a big chunk of their budget and he couldn’t cover either of the absentees.
Now, however, Liverpool can make sure they sign a player or two who can cover their star wingers. And they’ll have the capital to do it. This is undoubtedly a real problem but things could have been so much worse.
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