Mané will leave for the Africa Cup of Nations after Liverpool’s match away to Sunderland on Monday

Sadio Mané’s importance to Liverpool has been underlined by the club’s decision to employ a physiotherapist to shadow the £34 million striker at the Africa Cup of Nations next month.

Dave Galley, who was Liverpool’s head physio for six years between 1999 and 2005, has been recruited in the short term and will follow Mané when he joins up with Senegal in Gabon.

Mané will leave after the Sunderland match on Monday and could be away for a month, with the AFCON final on February 5. He could miss up to four Premier League matches, including a clash with title rivals Chelsea on January 31, as well as an FA Cup tie with Plymouth Argyle and the two-legged EFL Cup semi-final against his former side,