Wijnaldum: We're prepared for Sadio's absence
Georginio Wijnaldum has acknowledged that the loss of Sadio Mane for three games due to suspension has come as 'a blow' to Liverpool.
But the Dutchman revealed that the Reds' approach to training means they are always prepared to cope with the absence of any individual.
As a consequence of the red card he received against Manchester City last weekend, Mane will sit out Saturday's meeting with Burnley at Anfield and the back-to-back trips to Leicester City that follow.
However, Wijnaldum is hopeful Jürgen Klopp's team won't struggle without their Senegalese wide-man, thanks to the emphasis placed on the collective at Melwood.
"It's always a blow if you lose a player," the No.5 admitted to Liverpoolfc.com.
"It was already a blow to lose Adam Lallana at the beginning of the season. Those players are really important for us.
"It's always a blow for a team if important players get injured or suspended. But we're trying to create a base that when another player comes in we still try to play the same way.
"Someone else will fill in his position. We're going to try to play the same as usual.
"We train to not be affected by someone's position, so if someone changes from a position it must not be a problem for another player.
"We're trying to create a good base for the team and the players so when someone else plays you can still play the same way."
Today's game against Burnley is likely to provide another test of the Reds' ability to overcome a deep-lying opposition defence.
Liverpool struggled to counter that particular tactical approach at times last season - a theme that first emerged during a 2-0 defeat to the Clarets at Turf Moor in August.
Wijnaldum and his teammates know exactly what they have to do to prevail against a massed backline.
"Last season, in a few games we had problems with that," he added.
"In those kinds of games, you must have the confidence and the faith that you will score and will create chances, even if it's really difficult because they drop deep and defend really well.
"You still need confidence to create chances; against Crystal Palace, we had that and we were lucky we scored at the end of the game.
"You need a lot of patience against those kinds of teams. They drop deep and don't give you a lot of space to play football and there aren't a lot of gaps between the lines.
"You need to be ready so when they give you that space you can use it. You have to be really patient. A lot of times that's also the problem - when it doesn't happen quickly, you force things and you make them better."