Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp sounded out confirmation that star winger Sadio Mane will sit out the forthcoming league outing against Leicester City.
The Reds gear up to welcome Leicester to Anfield in the midweek contest with securing the three points the aim for the home side who look to keep pace with the runaway leaders Manchester City.
Sadio Mane, however, on the back of his country Senegal’s African Cup of Nations triumph against Egypt in the final is in line to be unavailable for selection, according to Klopp in his pre-match remarks.
“Sadio flies out if it’s possible on Wednesday night, so will arrive here on Thursday but he is, of course, then not involved in the Leicester game.
“It means the world to him, it means the world to his people, it means the world to Senegal and we respect that a lot and we would never consider to have called back him from there or whatever – let them do what they do in the moment because they deserve it.
“They’ve had an incredibly intense time, so when he is back we will talk to him and we will see how we can use him.”
Klopp could have his leading goalscorer Mohamed Salah back in the fold ahead of Thursday’s Anfield showdown with the latter forward returning to the AXA Training Centre on Tuesday.
Salah had been involved with Egypt in the AFCON where his country reached the finals only to lose to Mane’s Senegal.
“Mo is now back, I spoke already to him. He is very disappointed of course, but looking forward to all the things coming up here now.
“I spoke to him and pretty much the first thing Mo told me was: ‘I’m ready.’ Haha!
“He is an experienced player, he is a physical monster, to be honest, so we have to see. He will obviously have a little recovery session today and we will see how he feels tomorrow and from there we go.”
