Salah and Mane set for different Liverpool return dates after AFCON final

The Africa Cup of Nations final will have a distinctly Liverpool flavour after Mohamed Salah's Egypt set up a meeting with Sadio Mane's Senegal, but the two Reds forwards will return to Anfield at different times.

Egypt beat host nation Cameroon on penalties on Thursday night, with goalkeeper Gabaski the hero after a goalless draw, while Mane was on the scoresheet on Wednesday as Aliou Cisse's Senegal saw off Burkina Faso.

It is the first of two big clashes between the Liverpool teammates, who will also be involved in March as their countries face off for a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

For now, though, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp is looking forward to welcoming back the pair - even if they won't return together.

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While neither Salah nor Mane will be available for Liverpool's FA Cup game against Cardiff City, Klopp is hopeful of calling upon the pair for Thursday's league game against Leicester City.

"I think they will be available [for Leicester] but we will see," the manager told the media ahead of the cup game.

"Tuesday or Wednesday latest the winner will be back, the other slightly earlier," he added, confirming whoever comes out on top is likely to get an extra day or two to celebrate.

"I have to talk to them. They have rhythm as [they have] played quite a few games!"

All three of Egypt's knockout games have gone to extra-time, with Salah's effort against Morocco in the quarter-finals their only goal inside regulation time since the group stages.

Mane, meanwhile, has two knockout goals to go along with his one in the group stage, helping Senegal win all three of their knockout games inside 90 minutes.

Senegal have never won the Africa Cup of Nations before, while a win for Egypt on Sunday would represent their eighth title - albeit their first since 2010.

"[It's a] great achievement for both getting through to the final," Klopp said.

"Naby [Keita] 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."

Liverpool may be wary of rushing their two stars back into action after seeing what happened when Arsenal did the same with Thomas Partey.

The Ghana midfielder returned to action at the first available opportunity after his country's surprise group stage elimination, coming off the bench against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final, but was sent off after picking up two quickfire yellow cards.

Liverpool's 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium in January was one of four wins in their five games without Salah and Mane, with the only exception being their goalless draw in the first leg.

Klopp will be able to call on Liverpool's other AFCON representative this weekend, with Keita available after Guinea were eliminated from the competition at the last-16 stage.

Harvey Elliott is also available, after missing the last few months through injury, though fellow midfielder Thiago Alcantara is a doubt with a chest infection.