Mane not finding three-game ban "easy"

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane says watching his team-mates play during his three-game ban "has not been an easy time for me".

Mane has served two games of a three-match suspension following his red card for catching Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson with his studs during the Reds' 5-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium on 9 September.

Liverpool have failed to win either game, drawing 1-1 with Burnley at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday, and losing 2-0 to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium in Tuesday's Carabao Cup third-round tie.

Mane serves the final game of his ban in Saturday's Premier League game against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, a match which will be shown live on BT Sport 1 [kick off 5.30pm], and the Senegal international is desperate to return to action and help arrest the Reds' mini-slump.

"It is not an easy time for me because I would love to play all the time and help my team-mates," the 25-year-old told ESPN.

"It's bad, but I have to accept the suspension and wait until my comeback.

"I'm a football player and I love to play and score, to give us goals for the team. The suspension is part of football and I just have to accept it and move forward and be ready for my next game, which is coming soon."

Mane also says he hopes to apologise to Ederson for the challenge, which left the Brazilian keeper needing stitches to a cut on his face.

"We don't know each other, but I would love to have his number and send him a proper message," he continued.

"I think it is OK now, though.

"Honestly, after this incident, I was not OK. I was thinking about the red card, obviously, but we are human beings and we have to be nice to each other."

You can watch all of Liverpool’s Champions League campaign on the eir Sport package. Jurgen Klopp’s side will face Sevilla, Maribor and Spartak Moscow in Group E.

The Reds are next in action on the eir Sport pack in their Premier League game against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, 23 September, a match which will be shown live on BT Sport 1 [kick off 5.30pm]

Image: Getty Images/Alex Livesey

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