Jurgen Klopp happy for Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah to travel to Ghana ahead of Merseyside derby

The two forwards will travel to Accra for the African Footballer of the Year awards on Thursday before travelling back to Merseyside the following day

The two African forwards will both be allowed to travel to the ceremony (Getty)

Jurgen Klopp will allow forwards Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah to make a 6,600-mile round trip to Ghana the day before Liverpool play Everton in the FA Cup on Friday night.

The two forwards will travel to Accra for the African Footballer of the Year awards on Thursday before travelling back to Merseyside the following day. They are competing against Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the award.

Mane, who suffered a groin injury on Saturday against Leicester, would have been a doubtful starter for the third-round fixture but Mane scored a fabulous opener in the 2-1 defeat of Burnley and is likely to be involved. Klopp will, however, not stand in the players’ way.

“It is not a problem, we have everything organised,” said the Liverpool manager. “We have two of the three best African players in our squad. We have to show them respect. We are going to sleep in a hotel the night before the match, they are going to sleep on a plane. That is the only difference.

“It is just a sign of respect. I know it. I had Aubameyang at Dortmund and there is nothing more important than to go there.”

Although Virgil van Dijk will be available for the encounter with Everton following his £75m move from Southampton, Klopp was doubtful whether the centre-half would make his Liverpool debut on Friday.


 Virgil van Dijk may have to wait for his Liverpool debut 
 (Getty)

“I don’t know,” he said. “We have made a few tests but there is no rush. He really wants to but we have to make sure he can perform. Centre-half is a position that depends on others on the pitch. That means you have to tune in so you can work together. Pre-season is the time for that usually.

“After Friday we have a little bit more time. This is a long-term project. It is not important when his first game is but how many good games he has.”

After making a hugely impressive first start of the season against Burnley, Adam Lallana is likely to be involved, although after being rested for what Klopp admitted was a slight injury, there will be continuing speculation about Philippe Coutinho’s tenure at Anfield. Barcelona still appear determined to force through the transfer blocked by Liverpool in the summer.

Commenting on reports from Barcelona’s kit manufacturers, Nike, that the deal is imminent, Klopp remarked: “I couldn’t be less interested but somebody told me (of Nike’s comments) and I thought; ‘Wow’.”