Liverpool winger Sadio Mané requires knee surgery and will miss the rest of the season, manager Jurgen Klopp said on Friday.
Senegal international Mané, who has scored 13 Premier League goals this season, suffered the injury during Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Everton in the Premier League last weekend.
Mané’s finishing and pace have been key for Liverpool under Klopp and the team won just one of seven games in January – their worst run of results all season – when Mané was at the African Nations Cup.
“Pretty sure Mané needs surgery, and then it is season over. Impossible that he will play again this season,” Klopp told a news conference.
Klopp also said midfielder Philippe Coutinho and striker Daniel Sturridge were doubtful for Saturday’s league visit to Stoke City, while English duo Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana will both definitely miss the game.
The German, however, said he would not dwell on either the injury crisis or how Liverpool’s rivals were doing in the race for the top four, and urged his players to focus on picking up points.
“It’s not about thinking about the players you can’t (select), it’s about thinking of the players you can,” Klopp said.
Liverpool, who drew 2-2 with Bournemouth in midweek, are third in the table on 60 points, six above fifth-placed Arsenal and Manchester United in sixth, having played two games more than both.
“We want to qualify for the Champions League,” Klopp added. “We don’t play any of our rivals any more, so we can’t influence them. We just have to get as many points as we can.
“I don’t think 60, or 62, or 65 points will be enough to reach the Champions League. We need to collect a few more points.”