The Liverpool front four that could have been if they landed this key deal

Sadio Mane

There is no doubt that Liverpool missed Sadio Mane while he was on African Cup of Nations duty with Senegal last month.

The 24-year-old joined up with his national team after netting in the 2-2 draw with Sunderland on January 2, and the Reds then won just one of their seven matches before his return in the draw with Chelsea on Tuesday.

However, it wasn’t just the results that emphasised Mane’s absence, it was the lack of goals, with Klopp’s men managing just five goals in those seven matches, although they remain the highest scorers in the Premier League this term with 52.

The Senegalese international scored nine goals and assisted four others in 19 Premier League starts prior to the African Cup of Nations, so Reds fans would have been delighted to see him back in the squad and come off the bench against the Blues on Tuesday.

Keeping him fit and fresh will be integral to what Liverpool hope to achieve this season.

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