Sadio Mane is indeed carrying a fitness problem but it’s nothing that should give him or the fans sleepless nights, insists Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool started their Champions League campaign on the right foot, scraping past Ajax with a 1-0 scoreline in Wednesday’s Group D fixture.
An own goal from Nicolas Tagliafico forced by Sadio Mane was all it took for the visiting side at Amsterdam ArenA to claim all three points.
It came as surprise to when Mane, one of the best performers, was subbed off at the hour mark. He was then spotted in the dugout with an ice pack strapped around his right leg.
Fears over the Senegal international’s injury sparked among the Reds faithful, who had just witnessed the team losing one of their most pivotal players in the shape of Virgil van Dijk to a long-term injury.
However, those fears were calmed when Jurgen Klopp confirmed in his post-match press conference that Mane was simply dealing with a pre-existing problem.
“Sadio has still for a few days had a dead leg. He deals with it in that area, that’s the only thing,” explained the German manager, via Liverpool Echo.
“It is still painful but it’s not a problem. When he doesn’t play, he puts ice on it. That’s it.”
Liverpool fans will hope Mane is up and running when the team welcome Sheffield United for their return to the Premier League on Saturday.
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