Liverpool vs Chelsea: Fitness boost for Jurgen Klopp as Sadio Mane boards new team bus for Anfield title clash

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Tom Doyle31 January 2017

Jurgen Klopp has been handed a potential Premier League title boost with key forward Sadio Mane boarding Liverpool's new team bus for tonight's Anfield clash against Chelsea.

Mane's departure for the Africa Cup of Nations in early January heralded a downturn in Liverpool's form, with Klopp's side winning just one of seven games without the Segenal international and exiting both the EFL Cup and FA Cup in quick succession last week.

A penalty miss against Cameroon may have resulted in woe for both Mane and Senegal as the Lions of Teranga were eliminated from AFCON 2017 two days ago, but Liverpool reacted quickly to charter a jet in a bid to get the 24-year-old back in time for tonight's clash.

Klopp had said that he would need to 'look into Mane's eyes' during Monday's training session to decide whether the forward was ready, and the forward looked in high spirits as he joined his team-mates on the new team bus - with 'We are Liverpool' and 'You'll Never Walk Alone' written on the exterior - heading to Anfield.

Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Klopp revealed that Mane's intended flight back to England had not gone exactly as planned, saying: "We had a plane there, he was not allowed to go into the plane, we had to wait, we brought a plane from Italy."

Mane led Liverpool's title charge until early January with nine goals and four assists, though the Reds have picked up just one point from two league games against Manchester United (1-1) and Swansea (a 3-2 home defeat) without the former Southampton star.

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