Liverpool have announced Sadio Mane has suffered a hamstring injury on international duty with Senegal and will now be sidelined to up to six weeks.
Mane sustained the injury in the dying embers of Senegal’s 2-0 win over the Cape Verde on Saturday and was substituted with minutes remaining.
Further tests have been conducted and Liverpool have reluctantly been forced to accept one of their best players will be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Liverpool have endured a mixed start to the season and news that Mane will miss the reception of Manchester United on Saturday comes at a bad time for head coach Jurgen Klopp.
The 25-year-old will now also miss two Champions League matches matches against Maribor, as well as league games against Tottenham, Huddersfield and West Ham.
Liverpool’s title challenge crumbled when Mane was unavailable last season and the numbers do not make for good reading for supporters.
In fact, Liverpool’s win ratio in the Premier League drops from 61.3% with Mane in the starting XI to just 42.9% when he has not been available to start and you wouldn't bet on the Reds overcoming Manchester United now after the absense of their key man was confirmed.
