Liverpool have had an excellent start to their campaign and one player that has been key to that is Sadio Mane. The world’s most expensive African football might have raised a few eyebrows when it came to his price tag but he has shut a lot of detractors with his performances.

The 24-year-old Senegalese international has scored four goals and has two assists to his name in the Premier League this season. More than his goals, it his pace that has made life tough for opposition defences. While the former Southampton man cannot be dropped from the Merseyside club, Jurgen Klopp will have to play in January without the attacker.

Mane would be going away for the African Cup of Nations and that according to Klopp, would mean the Reds have to sign another winger.

“The African Cup of Nations we already knew about so we don’t need to be influenced or surprised by that, but it could be a moment when we approach the market.

“It’s not about how many strikers. Three strikers is enough, I think. But when Sadio is away we will be without a winger. We do not have many wingers, I would say.”

The German manager also stated that he could play Roberto Firmino in that role but also is worried about the sheer number of games at the start of 2017.

“Roberto Firmino could play as a kind of a winger which would then just give us two strikers. It is a long way to go from January onwards and that month of January is busy.

“If we can go to the semi-final of the League Cup it could be the busiest month of the whole year. We need to be prepared for this for sure.”

No Matip for Cameroon

While Mane would be a huge loss for the club, the Merseyside club should not have to worry about another African player going away. Joel Matip isn’t sure about his participation for Cameroon in the Cup of Nations and that is good news for Klopp.

Liverpool’s defence hasn’t been all that great this season but Matip has been one of the better buys thus far.

“I’ve not spoken to Joel about this much, but he wasn’t with the national team last time and he’s not with them this time.

“It’s a different situation to Sadio because he lived in Senegal. Joel was brought up in Germany. I am pretty sure Joel will stay here.”

Sadio going away on duty would be a tough pill to swallow. The Reds, as Klopp said, do not have a winger of the same ilk and they would have to bring in Daniel Sturridge in the side. This change would severely hamper the play of the team.

Liverpool do have a few young good wingers but Klopp has to provide a lot of game time to the likes of Sheyi Ojo and Ovie Ejaria. January will be a crunch month for the Reds and they will need all the help they can get if they want to be part of the leading group in the Premier League.

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