This is the Liverpool XI that can catch Premier League leaders Chelsea

Sadio Mane

It was clear from their results and performances how much Liverpool missed Sadio Mane while he was away at the African Cup of Nations.

The Senegalese international missed seven matches during January, of which the Reds only won one, and scored a mere five goals.

The 24-year-old is the club’s top-scorer this season with nine, and has also laid on four assists as part of a front three that were devastatingly good for much of the first half of the campaign.

Mane may need a bit of time to get back into the swing of things having flown back immediately from international duty, but when he’s back to full fitness and match sharp, he’ll get the goals and create the chances to help the Reds close the gap on Chelsea.