Liverpool’s Sadio Mane ruled out for rest of season – Klopp

Sadio Mane will miss the rest of the season and is likely to need surgery on his injured knee, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said.

Klopp also revealed that Philippe Coutinho is a doubt for Saturday’s trip to Stoke City because of the illness that led to his substitution against Bournemouth on Wednesday.

The manager said Mane would be sidelined by the injury he suffered in the 3-1 victory over Everton at Anfield.

The absence of the Senegal international forward for the remaining seven games of the Premier League season is a blow for Liverpool as they pursue Champions League qualification.

“Sadio will, we’re pretty sure, need surgery. We’re not 100 percent sure when it will happen, but it is clear his season is over,” Klopp told a news conference.

“That’s what I expected, actually, when I saw the video after the game. I thought he was lucky in this situation that not more happened, but it will be pretty much impossible that he will play again this season.

“But then he’ll have a long break and be ready for next season, so that’s the only good news.”

Mane has been one of Liverpool’s best players this season, scoring 13 goals in 29 appearances after joining in a £30 million summer move from Southampton.

Meanwhile, Coutinho has yet to fully recover from an illness that forced him off early in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.

The Brazil international was substituted midway through the second half at Anfield after vomiting at half-time and has not yet returned to training.

“Phil is still ill and was not at Melwood yesterday and he will not be here today,” Klopp said.

“He had a conversation with the doc and he feels much better, but it doesn’t look too good. We will have to see if we [can] bring him in tomorrow.

“We will give him all the time he needs, but it will be really close.”

Liverpool will be without the injured Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana for the trip to Stoke.

The home team are 12th in the Premier League after a disappointing recent run and Klopp said: “They have maybe not had the best results in the last few games, but they’re good and always a difficult team to play.

“Stoke is not an easy place to go, and everybody knows about this. The style of play should be pretty clear, and it’s a good football-playing side.

“It’s a difficult place to go, but it’s the only place we want to be at tomorrow.”