Liverpool fear they could be without Sadio Mané for a lengthy period after the striker limped out of the Merseyside derby with a knee problem.
The Senegal international sustained an injury when falling awkwardly after a challenge with Leighton Baines and was unable to put his weight on the knee following treatment. Mané, who opened the scoring in the 3-1 victory, was in good spirits as he left Anfield, telling reporters he felt “OK”, and the manager, Jürgen Klopp, suggested that the problem was not as bad as it initially appeared and he might miss only Wednesday’s home game against Bournemouth.
However, because of swelling on the knee, scans have been unable to reveal the extent of Mané’s injury and concerns have increased at Liverpool that the forward faces several weeks out of action. Mané is not believed to have sustained a cruciate ligament injury at this stage.
A substantial lay-off with only eight league games remaining would represent a major setback to Liverpool. Klopp’s team sorely missed Mané during the Africa Cup of Nations, winning one of seven matches in his absence, and face two difficult away fixtures at Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion following Bournemouth’s visit. The captain Jordan Henderson, the in‑form Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge are also sidelined, with the midfielders facing extended periods out.
The loss of Mané and Sturridge’s continuing injury problems may present Divock Origi with a rare chance to start in the Premier League, and the Belgium international says he is ready to build on his goalscoring substitute’s display against Everton.
Origi said: “I’m ready. I always said that I’m ready to be an important player for the team. I really believe it. I’m not just an option for the future, I’m an option for now.
“I want to do everything to get in the team. The coach has several choices and that is only good for the team. The team is most important and we have to finish strong. I hope I can play a big part in the end of the season.
“I’m very ambitious and I believe in my qualities. Like I say, I’m ready and ready now to do whatever. But you have to put everything in and show it on the pitch. I always respect the decision of the coach and, for me, the most important thing is to stay cool in the head and enjoy the game every time, play a part and help the team.”
The 21-year-old has started only seven Premier League games this season but says he feels in better shape than last term, when he was on course to finish strongly only for Ramiro Funes Mori to damage his ankle ligaments in the derby.
“I’m very good, I’m very fit,” Origi said. “I feel even better than last year. For me it is just giving everything for every minute that I get. Then at the end of the season we will see. Like coming on against Everton and putting everything in. We just wanted to win at all costs. We showed after the international break that we are ready to finish the season strongly.”
