Diouf must wait for African Nations Cup

Countries involved can call up their players three weeks before the start of the tournament, but Gerard Houllier wants o hold Diouf back until the last possible moment.

"We have a game on the tenth of January and he will stay until then. I will be telling him that," said the Liverpool boss.

"The African Nations Cup starts on January 24 so he will have plenty of time to join the Senegal squad."

Senegal's first game of the tournament is against Burkina Faso on 26th January.