UPDATE: Full story as decision now confirmed on date of Africa Cup of Nations 2021.
Liverpool could be without Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita for a portion of next season with the Africa Cup of Nations dates expected to be moved this week.
Current time-frames for AFCON 2021 are pencilled in for the summer in Cameroon, but the country's climate during June and July has forced the CAF into a re-think.
The times could now reportedly change from summer to winter and January 2021 is a potential start date for the African competition, with discussions taking place in the region on Wednesday.
CAF president Ahmad Ahmad said earlier this week that the dates could be revised for the tournament, which would mean disruption for many European-based African internationals.
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That would include Egypt captain Salah, Senegal star Mane and Guinea talisman Keita, potentially leaving Jurgen Klopp short of three key members of his squad for around a month of the 2020/21 campaign.
All three Reds stars are likely to be desperate to play a part in the tournament, with the trio of Liverpool players the key men for their respective nations.
"When we took the decision to move the Africa Cup of Nations to June, which we did for the last tournament in Egypt, we have always said that we need to have some flexibility over the dates," Ahmad reportedly told Inside World Football.
“This is because of the different climatic conditions in the continent. In my view, it is not possible, because of the climatic conditions in Cameroon, to stage the Africa Cup of Nations in June/July.
"This is clear, so we must take a decision on the date.”
No date change has been made official by the CAF as of yet, but various reports on Wednesday have claimed a decision is imminent.
The current dates stand tentatively between June 11 to July 9, which would already cause issues for Liverpool's pre-season plans for Salah, Mane and Keita.
However, the current proposals are likely to be more favourable to Klopp and his backroom staff than the possible switch to January and February, which would hit the Reds hard midway through their Premier League campaign next term.
Liverpool were forced to fend without Mane during the 2017 competition for seven games as they won just once - against League Two side Plymouth - in his absence.
The Reds sent a private jet to Gabon following Senegal's exit to rush him back to Merseyside for the 1-1 draw with Chelsea on February 1.
Liverpool could already be forced to make do without Salah and Japan international Takumi Minamino for the start of next season, also, given their potential participation at the Olympics.
Klopp indicated last year that he would have a private conversation with Salah about his plans, with the final of the Men's Football to be held on Saturday August 8 in Japan.
"I have no idea [what will happen]," Klopp said in November. "There are some problems I know in the future, this I know from an hour ago that Egypt have qualified for the Olympics.
“I have to speak to Mo. I don’t know if I do it today, or whenever."
