Liverpool’s Sadio Mane ruled out for the rest of the season

The Senegal international picked up the injury during last weekend’s 3-1 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby and sat out the midweek draw with Bournemouth.

But a demoralised the 24-year-old requires surgery on the ligament injury and is unlikely to be available for Liverpool’s final seven games of the season.

The winger’s absence will be a huge blow to Liverpool’s top four hopes.

Klopp’s side have not won any of the games that Mane has missed this season, averaging just 1.3 goals per game in those matches – a whole goal-a-game less than their season average.

And Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Bournemouth saw that unwanted streak stretch to four games.

Liverpool have seven games remaining this season, with all against opponents outside the Premier League's top seven. Yet such opposition have proved to be Liverpool's undoing this season, with Mane often the go-to man to break down defensively-minded lower-table opponents.

Mane's injury is the latest in a number of fitness setbacks for Klopp's side, something that manager was keen to stress during his media conference on Friday: