Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane could miss the next six weeks with a hamstring injury, it was confirmed on the club’s official website.
The 25-year-old picked up the knock during the international break while playing for Senegal in a World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde on Saturday.
His major blow could see him miss six weeks of action and mean he will be absent for some crucial fixtures.
Mane is considered to be one of the star men at Anfield and the left winger has scored three goals and two assists in nine games this season across all competitions.
However, he is now set to miss Premier League clashes with Manchester United (14th), Tottenham (22nd) and Huddersfield (28th) in October.
He is also in danger of missing further league clashes in November against West Ham (4th) and his former club Southampton (18th) which will be a big concern for Liverpool fans.
The Merseyside club also have three Champions League clashes to contend with in the next six weeks and he is in danger of missing them all.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will be significantly weaker without the pacy wide man Mane, but it could open the door for emerging youngster Ben Woodburn to make an impression in the first team.
OPINION
Mane would be the one player that Liverpool fans would want fit and raring to go in their starting XI, but they will have to find a way to win without him for the immediate future. His technical ability and blistering pace is a big part of the Reds game, who can be unplayable when their attackers are on form. They will certainly have to improve defensively to make sure they are to beat as they lose a big part of their game when the Senegal international is not in their side. It will now be up to the likes of Mohamed Salah and Philippe Coutinho to fill the void in his absence to keep Liverpool in the race for the title.