Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes the decision to move the Africa Cup of Nations back to its traditional January slot is a ''catastrophe'' for the club.
The tournament was due to be hosted by Cameroon in July 2021 and would have followed the expanded Club World Cup, which is set to feature Liverpool in the 24-team group stage.
But the Cameroonian soccer federation announced Wednesday that the African showpiece will instead be held from Jan. 9 to Feb. 6 to avoid the country's rainy season.
That is likely to mean Klopp will be without Senegal's Sadio Mane, Egypt's Mohamed Salah and Guinea's Naby Keita for some or all of the six-week period.