Sadio Mane is in line to be omitted from the Liverpool starting XI for their Premier League clash against Brighton on Saturday afternoon, according to the Guardian.
The newspaper predict that the wide forward will not make Jurgen Klopp’s team for the second time in three matches despite scoring the opener in the midweek 3-0 at Stoke City.
Klopp did not indicate that Mane was suffering from an injury at his media conference on Friday, but the Guardian report that the key man is in line to miss out at the AMEX Stadium.
It is said that Mohamed Salah and Philippe Coutinho will be restored to the team after six changes were made to the starting XI at Stoke, with Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also in the front four.
OPINION
Klopp has thrown a few selection curve balls in the last two matches as he aims to keep minds and bodies fresh for a gruelling run of December fixtures, which includes marquee imminent home matches against Everton and Spartak Moscow. But it would still rank as a major shock if Mane did not start at Brighton, given that he was rested against Chelsea only last Saturday. The brilliant forward is a key member of Liverpool’s front line, which has been scintillating at various times in recent weeks. He scores and create goals, and is almost unplayable when running at backtracking defenders.