Mane expected to miss two more games with small muscle tear

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed forward Sadio Mane is likely to miss Liverpool’s next two matches with a small muscle tear.

Senegal international Mane pulled up in the first half of Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Wolves last Thursday with a hamstring complaint.

The 27-year-old was absent for the 2-2 draw with Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday and will miss the Premier League trip to West Ham on Wednesday.

However, Klopp only expects Mane to miss one other match – a home clash against his former club Southampton on Saturday – as the damage is not as bad as first feared.

“Sadio will not be involved for West Ham and probably not Southampton,” Klopp said at a news conference on Tuesday.

“Afterwards he should be fine, then the week after that should be perfect for him to get back on track. 

“He has a small muscle tear, which is serious enough to rule him out, but we’ve been a little bit lucky with the injury as well so it’s not that serious. 

“But when you have three games in a week it means he’s out for three games.”

Mane has started 21 of Liverpool’s 23 Premier League matches this season and has been used 31 times in all competitions.