Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has no problem with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane attending the African Footballer of the Year ceremony.

Indeed, Klopp is proud of his influence on all three nominees.

He said: "Everything is organised. We have two of the three best African players in our squad. Now can we sit at home and say, 'they have something to celebrate and we are not interested'? That would not show the respect we have to show in a situation like this. If it were a matchday they wouldn't have asked. It's the night before; we are in the hotel and train before.

"They sleep on a plane. That's the modern world. That's all the difference. They will be ready or not. If Mo is not ready, it's nothing to do with this. We can send physiotherapists and everything, we have everything organised. That's no problem. [They have] to be physically there, one of them [gets the award], a few interviews and then go home.

"From our side it is just a sign of respect. [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang is the third one. I trained all of them – cool! There is nothing more important than to go there, that's how it is. So I try everything to help that we make it possible. Is it ideal? No. Will it disturb [us]? No."