Liverpool striker Sadio Mane now CERTAIN to miss extra Premier League games – but there’s good news for Leicester

Sadio Mane scored against Zimbabwe – but should probably __have had more than one (Getty)

Liverpool, among a few other Premier League clubs, will __have been hoping Senegal endured a terrible African Cup of Nations.

If they did, it would have meant an early return for their players, in Liverpool’s case top scorer Sadio Mane.

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However things haven’t gone to plan. Senegal beat Zimbabwe 2-0 on Thursday with Mane on the scoresheet to ensure they will progress through to the knockout stage and remain in Gabon a little while longer.

Mane celebrates his goal (Getty)

With the AFCON group games concluding on January 25, players representing nations knocked out that early would be back for the midweek Premier League fixtures on January 31 and February 1.

Those knocked out at the quarter-final stage will return for the Premier League fixtures on the weekend of February 4/5. Meanwhile those who make it through to the last four won’t be available until February 11/12.

When will the AFCON players be available?

Group stage exit: Premier League fixtures on 31 Jan + 1 Feb

Quarter-final exit: Premier League fixtures on 4/5 Feb

Semi-final exit: Premier League fixtures on 11/12 Feb

Finalists: Premier League fixtures on 11/12 Feb

In addition to Mane, Premier League players Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke) and Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham) also represent Senegal and won’t be making an early return.

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However there was better news for Leicester. Algeria were surprisingly beaten by Tunisia earlier in the day, a result that leaves them with just a point after two games in Group B. It means they must beat Senegal in their final game or be eliminated. With Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani among their squad, Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri will be a very happy man.