Mane: Why Liverpool can flourish in my absence
Sadio Mane has admitted to feeling somewhat torn ahead of his departure to the Africa Cup of Nations - but the Liverpool forward is backing his teammates to thrive in his absence.
Senegal star Mane will go away on international duty following the Reds’ Premier League trip to Sunderland on January 2 and, depending on how his country fares in the tournament in Gabon, may not return to Merseyside until early February.
The 24-year-old has adapted to life at Anfield seamlessly since his summer move from Southampton, scoring eight goals in 16 Premier League appearances - including, of course, a 94th-minute winner in Monday’s Merseyside derby victory at Goodison Park.
However, Mane believes Jürgen Klopp has enough quality at his disposal to ensure Liverpool continue to flourish while he represents his country.
“It will not be easy for me to go with Senegal next month,” the No.19 said.
“I would love to carry on playing with my teammates and help my team, but I think they will understand because it is my country and it is my dream.
“I will be wishing them good luck, but without me the team will be the same. Even better I think. They will cope.
“[Philippe] Coutinho will come back. [Joel] Matip will come back and [Daniel] Sturridge is back now. I am very happy for him.
“It has not been easy for him being out, he has had a lot of injuries. But you know he can deliver important performances for the team. That is why the team will be strong.”
LFCTV GO: Watch Sadio settle the derby
Mane’s dramatic late strike against Everton moved Liverpool back up to second in the Premier League, six points adrift of leaders Chelsea.
But the Reds’ man insisted that Klopp’s side are concentrating only on themselves, not the results of teams around them.
“We are not thinking about Chelsea. We are focusing on our team and it was important to get the three points,” Mane added.
“We take each game at a time. It is still early to talk about what is going to happen, but one of our ambitions is to go far as possible.
“It was a very important goal. The performance of the team was great and we are very happy to get the three points.
“It was a different type of win from us and that’s good. It was a derby and everybody knows how these games are. The most important thing was not how we played but to have the win.
“We got it and we are going to keep going now.”