Jurgen Klopp says plans to move the Africa Cup of Nations will be ‘a catastrophe’ for Liverpool.
The Premier League leaders are set to lose Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita when the tournament returns to its traditional winter date next year.
Hosts Cameroon announced on Wednesday the decision to switch the biannual competition in efforts amid concerns over summertime rain in the country.
But Klopp believes that the move will have wider implications on the Reds’ future transfer plans in relation to players who will be called up to the Cup of Nations.
He said: “For us it’s a catastrophe.
“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.
“If we say ‘he can’t go, he’s suspended’. How can the club who pay his salary not decide? If he’s injured and we say ‘he can’t play’, we have to send him to Africa so they can have a look.
“It doesn’t help African players. We will not sell Sadio, Mo or Naby now because they have a tournament in January and February – of course not.
“But if you have to make a decision about bringing in a player, it is a massive one because before the season you know for four weeks you don’t have them.
“That’s a normal process and as a club you have to think about these things.”