Liverpool Manager Explains Reason for Benching Salah and Mané in FA Cup Game, Did Not Want To Be Misunderstood

• Jurgen Klopp has revealed why he benched Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah during Liverpool's FA Cup clash against Nottingham Forest
• The German trainer was criticized for claiming the Africa Cup of Nations was a 'small' tournament in the past
• Klopp rested his African stars over the weekend due to the upcoming World Cup play-offs on the continent

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he had to rest his African stars, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané to avoid being misunderstood.

Klopp had earlier being criticized for sharing his thoughts about the Africa Cup of Nations, which he feels was wrongly captured.

However, with Egypt and Senegal set to clash again this week in the World Cup play-off, the German trainer decided to bench the duo for the FA Cup game against Nottingham Forest.

“Mo felt the foot again from the Brighton game. [It’s] not massive, but it was clear that you would not be in a game like this if you have a little bit of pain here, or there,” Klopp said.

AFCON winner and PSG defender makes stunning revelation about Sadio Mané

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“There is no chance. In that moment it was clear that we will not use Sadio for the game because the game is too big in Africa.

“I don’t want to be twice the one who is doing things like that, which could be misunderstood. The others were all unavailable. Mo was unavailable, only Sadio we left out.”

Egypt and Senegal renew their rivalry on Friday, March 25, 2022 in the first leg of their World Cup playoff.

The winner of the games on aggregate will qualify for the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Sadio Mané arrives in Senegal camp ahead of Egypt clash

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Senegal have been boosted by the arrival of Africa Cup of Nations best player Sadio Mané ahead of the mouthwatering FIFA World Cup play-off clash against Egypt.

The Liverpool star joined his teammates in Marrakech, Morocco, as the Teranga Lions begin training for the big game on Friday.

In photos posted on Twitter, spotted by Sports Brief, several of the Senegalese players from AFCON have arrived as preparations continue before their trip to Cairo.