Liverpool are without Sadio Mane for 10 games - here are three ways Jurgen Klopp's men could line-up while key man recovers from hamstring injury

  • Sadio Mane is set to be out until December with a grade two hamstring injury 
  • Liverpool could be without their star man for as much as 10 matches
  • It could prompt a reshuffle in attack and midfield from Jurgen Klopp 

Sadio Mane's hamstring injury gives Jurgen Klopp a line-up conundrum over the next six weeks but it is arguably a problem the Liverpool manager has more practice in solving than he would like.

The forward sustained the grade-two injury on international duty with Senegal on Saturday and could be absent for 10 matches. But Mane missed the end of Liverpool's last campaign with a knee injury and was also away in January for the Africa Cup of Nations. This season, he has served a three-match ban for a red card at Manchester City.

Sportsmail looks at three different ways that Klopp's Liverpool could line up without their key player.

Sadio Mane may miss 10 Liverpool matches  after injuring his hamstring with Senegal

Sadio Mane may miss 10 Liverpool matches after injuring his hamstring with Senegal

 

OPTION ONE 


Philippe Coutinho's return to the first-team setup after the transfer window closed saw midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum drop to the bench for Liverpool, with Klopp fielding a front three of Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.

But the Brazil international is now the leading contender to be deployed in the left Klopp's attack, a position he had for the majority of last season.

In turn, that would pave the way for Dutchman Wijnaldum to return to the midfield alongside Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Emre Can.

But while Coutinho is a more than capable replacement for Mane going forward, Klopp may fear losing some fluidity in midfield with the Brazilian shifting positions.

Coutinho has played in midfield when Sadio Mane is fit for Liverpool

Philippe Coutinho could move into Liverpool's attack with Mane out for 10 matches

 

OPTION TWO

Since Klopp became Liverpool manager a little over two years ago, Daniel Sturridge has needed an injury to a team-mate to have any hope of an extended first-team run.

That time has come again with Mane sidelined and Sturridge will almost definitely get more opportunities on the pitch if he stays fit, with Klopp looking to balance Premier League commitments with Champions League demands.

On top form, Sturridge is the most ruthless finisher in Liverpool's team by a distance. But he has only scored once in seven games for the Reds so far this season and that was Liverpool's last goal in the 4-0 win against Arsenal.

More game time to find his rhythm and to build momentum could be all he needs for his season to catch fire. If he thrives, it is highly likely Liverpool will as well.

But Sturridge's presence as the spearhead of Liverpool's attack means Firmino, an essential part of Klopp's setup off the ball, drops into attacking midfield where he often finds it difficult to have as much of an influence.

Daniel Sturridge could be chosen to lead Liverpool's attack by manager Jurgen Klopp
Sturridge has struggled to nail down a regular starting role under Klopp

Daniel Sturridge could be chosen to lead Liverpool's attack by manager Jurgen Klopp

 

OPTION THREE 

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's £35million arrival from Arsenal was for moments like this.

Last season Mane's absence left Liverpool void of pace, but Klopp moved to ensure that will not happen again with the arrivals of Salah and Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Klopp has made no secret of his preference for Liverpool to play with fast wide attackers before. Ahead of the 3-3 draw at Watford on the first day of the season, he said of playing Mane and Salah together: 'It makes us more difficult to defend because speed is the most difficult thing to defend in football.

'It creates spaces for all the rest, even just the threat of speed opens space in different areas and we need to use them.'

Oxlade-Chamberlain could play a similar role to Mane for Liverpool but has looked out of form and short of confidence since joining in August. 

But the fact he could be a direct replacement means Coutinho would remain in a midfield and cause less upheaval to Klopp's starting line-up.

Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain could be a direct replacement for Mane in Liverpool's front three
Oxlade-Chamberlain in a front three would mean Coutinho remains in Liverpool's midfield

Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain could be a direct replacement for Mane in Liverpool's front three