With just 2 points from the last 3 league games, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have slowly slipped down the points table early this year. They are currently in the 4th place in the points table, 10 points off Chelsea at the top and will need to improve quickly to have a shot at the title.
The manager will be looking at additions to the squad this month but the Reds were given some encouraging news earlier today.
Not much has changed from the start of the season for Liverpool when they were brushing opponents aside for fun. But one Sadio Mane, and his absence have dearly cost the side.
The Senegalese winger joined Liverpool just this summer from Southampton for a few that could potentially be a club record and he has been an impact player at the club straight away, standing as the highest goal scorer for the Reds in the league at the moment.
However, he left the club for the AFCON before the start of the month and Liverpool have won just one game in 5 without him in the squad this month.
The manager and the side have also been looking for replacements but the AFCON knockout stage draws could give Liverpool a lifeline.
It is clear that the Reds need the winger to break teams down and the 24-year old has a feeble chance of coming back to Anfield for the game against Chelsea.
The top of the table side travel to the Anfield on the last day of January and Liverpool cannot afford to drop any points in that game if they are to keep their title hopes alive. But they will need to be at their full strength to get the better of a side that is cruising to the title.
So they will surely welcome Sadio Mane, who could be on his way back to Anfield in a few days.
Senegal, who finished the group stage at the top of their group, were drawn with Cameroon, one of the strongest sides in the competition.
Mane’s side has a few quality players but will face one of the favorites of the competition in just the first knockout round. This game will be played on Saturday. 4 days before the Chelsea game and if Senegal lose, Mane is knocked out of the tournament.
If this happens, Liverpool will be happy to fly him back to the club immediately and though he may not have enough time to recover, Klopp will surely have him in his plans for that game.
It will be interesting to see if Senegal lose and to see if Klopp sticks Sadio Mane in the first team if he returns to England a good few days before the clash.
Do you think Cameroon will do any favors to Liverpool?