Klopp discusses how Liverpool will replace injured Mane

Matt Stead

Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool must use their “different options” to replace Sadio Mane against Manchester United.

The two bitter Premier League rivals meet on Saturday, with Liverpool hoping to arrest their current slump in form.

They must do so without Mane, who suffered an injury on international duty with Senegal and is expected to miss around six weeks.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be drafted in to replace the forward, with Klopp discussing his options on Friday. He should have just told Mane not to get injured.

“Things like this happen. If you look around the world, a lot of players in this international break got injured,” he told the club’s official website.

“You always hope that nothing will happen, but as long as they are not around, we don’t know exactly what happens. It’s quite difficult to get in touch with all the different FAs and all that stuff like this.

“I had a chat immediately after the game with Sadio, how I always do with the boys. It was not clear it would be that serious, but he said ‘I feel something in my hamstring’, so it was clear it would be at least close for the United game – and now we know it’s much longer.

“That’s not cool, but we have to deal with it – how we always have to do.

“It’s always like this; one injured player, two injured players… you always have to [have players come in]. We have now three long-term injuries with Clyney and Adam, and now since a few days ago Sadio is out.

“Of course, they are all quality players, but it is not about talking about them; it’s all about really building a really strong side, a real strong line-up for the next game.

“In the moment, we are still in a quite comfortable situation because we have different options and that’s good. That’s what we wanted to have before the season – now we have it and now we have to use it.”