Sadio Mane's gesture to Mo Salah at first Liverpool home game since winning AFCON

Sadio Mane made a special request to Liverpool after he and strike partner Mohamed Salah returned from Africa Cup of Nations duty.

The two Reds superstars went head-to-head in the final of the competition earlier this month, as Mane’s Senegal edged out Salah’s Egypt in the showpiece match in Cameroon.

Indeed, it was Mane who dramatically struck the winning penalty – having spurned a spot-kick opportunity in normal time – to seal victory for the Senegalese team, his nation's first-ever title.

That goal from the former Southampton ace robbed Salah of the opportunity of taking Egypt's fifth penalty in the shootout.

It meant heartbreak for record competition winners and Salah, who has yet to taste glory in the competition during his international career.

Furthermore, the two stars will go head-to-head once again as they contest a World Cup playoff qualification spot.

Senegal will take on Egypt for a place in this year’s finals in Qatar as they travel to the North African nation on 22 March before hosting the return leg in Dakar six days later.

However, according to Canal Football Club, Mane made a special request to Liverpool not to make any reference of him and Senegal lifting Africa's most prestigious tournament.

Mane is said to have made this request out of respect to Salah, who would have been hurting from his nation's near failure in the tournament.

One of the lasting images of the final in Yaounde was Mane comforting Salah moments after his decisive spot-kick, with the Egyptian talisman unable to fight back tears.

Earlier this week, Mane outlined that he and Salah did not talk about the ongoing rivalry between their two international sides ahead of next month’s crucial World Cup qualification double header.

“Me