Jurgen Klopp sends a message to Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane accompanied by a “heartbreak” warning ahead of AFCON final clash

Jurgen Klopp sends a message to Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane accompanied by a “heartbreak” warning ahead of AFCON final clash

Jurgen Klopp has told Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane that they are on the verge of achieving “something really big” ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday – but has warned that one will suffer heartbreak at full-time.

Salah’s Egypt will face Mane’s Senegal for the ultimate prize in African football, a tournament that neither player has won in their illustrious careers.

Mane suffered heartbreak in the previous AFCON final two and a half years ago, losing to Algeria and Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez in Egypt.

Salah has also tasted defeat in the final, as Cameroon defeated Egypt 2-1 in Gabon thanks to a late Vincent Aboubakar goal. It will be the fifth anniversary of that game on Saturday.

“Great achievement for both getting through to the final,” said the Liverpool manager ahead of his team’s FA Cup tie against Cardiff on Sunday afternoon.

“Naby [Keita of Guinea] played an exceptional tournament as well. So far, a really successful tournament for our boys and it will be exciting.

“It won’t be easy because one will be really happy afterwards and one less so. It’s a chance to achieve something really big.”

On if Salah and Mane will be available for Liverpool Premier League fixture vs Leicester on Thursday, Klopp added: “I think they will be available but we will see.

“Tuesday or Wednesday is the latest the winner will be back, the other slightly earlier. I have to talk to them. They have rhythm as they’ve played quite a few games!”

Salah and Mane have both expressed a desire to win the African Cup of Nations on Sunday.

“Of course I want to win something with the national team,” said Salah last month. “It’s my country, what I love the most.

“This trophy for me would be completely different, would be the closest to my heart. We were close before to win this African Cup [in 2017], we gave it everything but we were not lucky to win it.

“But it’s ok, now we are here in the new one. We have to fight for it, we have to give everything to win it and I’m sure the players have the same feeling.”

Mane added: “All the players know that we are very close to it now. Being close again to the trophy doesn’t matter.

“We still have to work hard to win because we’ve been in the final years ago and this time we must do everything not let it slip. We have to win.”

Mane was also keen to praise Senegal manager Aliou Cisse, who has been criticised on several occasions during his seven-year spell in charge.

“I believe this man [Cisse] deserves everything because he’s the most criticised coach I’ve ever seen in my life, but he never gives up,” insisted the Liverpool star.

“He trusts himself, he trusts the group. He has critics outside, but right here he is doing his job.

“Most importantly, we would like to win this for him and our country because he deserves it after everything he went through as a player for Senegal and now as the coach.

“It will be a great reward for everything he has given to his country.”

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Jurgen Klopp sends a message to Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane accompanied by a “heartbreak” warning ahead of AFCON final clash