Klopp offers Mane hint after Liverpool suffer another injury problem

Jurgen Klopp has seemingly ruled Sadio Mane out of Liverpool's clash with Brighton on Wednesday.

The Senegalese attacker missed the weekend win over West Ham with an unspecified muscle issue he sustained in last week's victory over Tottenham, in which he scored.

Klopp has been at pains to point out at the problem is a minor one, but it seems as though it is severe enough to keep him out of the visit from the Seagulls.

When asked if Liverpool's injury situation was the same as the weekend, Klopp said: "Yes, it's as it was."

If he is absent then the German will expect Mane to return for the weekend's clash at come to Manchester City, and so his absence against Brighton could be viewed as something of a precaution.

He was replaced by Divock Origi for the win at West Ham, with Xherdan Shaqiri also coming in for Roberto Firmino.

The Brazilian is expected to return to the starting lineup to face Brighton, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones are also pushing for starts after impressing off the bench on Sunday.

With Joel Matip out for the season, Liverpool are likely to again field Jordan Henderson and Nat Phillips at centre-back, with new signing Ben Davies set for a place on the bench.

Fellow deadline arrival Ozan Kabak doesn't get have international clearance and so won't feature.

Klopp has also shot down suggestions that Virgil van Dijk could make a return from his serious knee injury before the end of the season.

"In the moment, I don’t know where these things are coming from – nobody really, no doctor, nobody really told me there’s a chance for Virgil to play in this season again," said Klopp.

"I don’t want to say that’s absolutely impossible but it’s not likely. It’s not likely. We don’t have to discuss these things really."

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