Liverpool forward Mane set for knee surgery, out for season

The Senegal worldwide forward limped off early in the second half against Everton, and Klopp immediately ruled him out of Wednesday night’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, admitting the situation was not “very positive”.

“Sadio Mane needs surgery”, Klopp told the media ahead of his side’s clash away to Stoke City on Saturday. Then, against the lesser teams, they just struggle.

How important have the midfield trio been for Klopp this season? He should need no external motivation to be up for this encounter.

Again, around the second goal, Sadio would not have been too much involved in defending so the influence of missing Sadio was not too big.

Trailing to Jon Walters’ goal just before half-time, the German sent on Philippe Coutinho, ill for the last three days, and Roberto Firmino, rested after a punishing schedule, and they turned the game around with a goal apiece.

Daniel Sturridge might come back into line for the Stoke game, although he was an unused substitute on Wednesday night, with Klopp judging him as not being fit enough to replace Coutinho on the hour mark. They are one of two or three teams that don’t fight for one thing or fight against another.

Liverpool, meanwhile, still haven’t worked out how to overcome the so-called smaller sides, as they last drew 2-2 with Bournemouth after a good 3-1 win over high-flying Everton in the Merseyside derby.

Liverpool are now third in the league table on 60 points. “We have to get more experience in this, for sure”.

“That is how we will play, 100 per cent”.

“It’s a hard place to go, but it’s the only place we want to be at tomorrow”. “We know we have had bad luck this season with injuries and stuff but we keep on fighting with the team spirit”.

“He was not at Melwood (Liverpool’s training ground) yesterday and he will not be here today”.

Liverpool have won six of their last seven Premier League meetings with Stoke City, the last two both 4-1, although the sole exception within that run was a chastening 6-1 loss in the Potteries on the final day of the 2014-15 campaign.

“Stoke are a good team, eh?” he said. “Being in this position is good but the season is not over”. He will be really close and we will have to see. He featured for the Liverpool Under-23s in March to regain his fitness.