Could Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp have avoided Sadio Mane injury blow ahead of Manchester United clash?

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Romelu Lukaku will have left Manchester to join up with Belgium last week with strict instructions from Jose Mourinho: 'Don't get injured.' Did Jurgen Klopp say the same to Sadio Mane?

Lukaku is central to the United manager's game plan at Anfield on Saturday. He will want to hurt Liverpool on the counter-attack with the blistering pace of Lukaku and Marcus Rashford.

That is why Mourinho was keen for Roberto Martinez to rest Lukaku in Belgium's dead rubber against Cyprus — especially after he had missed the previous match against Bosnia and Herzegovina with an ankle problem.

Liverpool will be without the injured Sadio Mane for their showdown with Manchester United

United's star striker, Romelu Lukaku, did come through the international break unscathed

In the end Lukaku made a 24-minute goalscoring cameo and will now be able to play a pivotal role against Liverpool.

The same cannot be said for Mane, who could miss the next 10 games after suffering a hamstring injury playing for Senegal in their 2-0 win over Cape Verde.

Klopp is different to Mourinho. He has an emotional connection with every one of his players and you feel he really wants them to be happy. As he left Liverpool, was Mane told that he must return fit?

Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp are different. Was Mane told he must return to the club fit?

Mane could miss Liverpool's next 10 matches after injuring his hamstring playing for Senegal

I kept coming back with injuries after playing for England. I had two major operations — one on a shoulder and another on a knee — as a result of injuries picked up while on international duty.

Arsene Wenger used to tell me to not pick up an injury during the international break. In one England game, my hamstring felt tight and, with Wenger's message in my ear, I asked Kevin Keegan if I could come off at half-time. Keegan was very understanding. 

Mane's injury is a huge blow to Liverpool. They have often struggled without him. His absence tips the match in United's favour.