Liverpool’s Sadio Mane expects team to produce champions’ response after FA Cup exit to Chelsea

League leaders have lost three of their last four games

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has vowed the Premier League leaders will produce the reaction of champions after seeing their FA Cup hopes ended at Chelsea.

The Reds suffered a shock first defeat of the league campaign at Watford and were on the end of a 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

Jurgen Klopp’s men – also beaten 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at Atletico Madrid last month – must now regroup for the visit of Bournemouth, another team scrapping for points at the wrong end of the table.

Mane is confident the players will swiftly raise their game once again.

“We have another important game on Saturday [against Bournemouth] and then on Wednesday [against Atletico], so we will be ready and we will be back again,” Mane said.

“This can happen in football and we are used to it.

“We just have to keep working hard and keep going if we want to be great champions.”

Midfielder Curtis Jones was one of the Liverpool youngsters who reveled in their FA Cup run.

The 19-year-old intends to make the most of any more opportunities that come his way this season.

“I think for a young lad at such a big club it is not always easy getting game time as much as you would like or in the games that you would like, but the gaffer has shown great belief in myself and the rest of the young lads,” Jones said on Liverpool’s website.

“Hopefully I have paid him back in a great way, and look forward to a few more along the way.”

PA