Liverpool’s Sadio Mane taken off injured as Reds face anxious wait ahead of Arsenal

The Liverpool forward failed to last the opening 30 minutes of his side’s World Cup qualifier against Togo after sustaining an injury that will undoubtedly worry Reds fans

Liverpool star Sadio Mane was substituted out of action just 28 minutes into Senegal’s World Cup qualifying clash away at Togo on Thursday evening.

In scenes that will concern Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, Mane was spotted sitting on the turf unable to continue before he was eventually replaced by Boulaye Dia before the 30-minute mark had been reached.

Considering Liverpool have a number of crucial fixtures coming up, including next Saturday’s home clash against Arsenal, both Klopp and Reds fans alike will be fearing the worst.

Mane will be bitterly disappointed he was forced to exit the contest early for obvious reasons, including the fact he can not continue his interesting vein of form for his country.

In World Cup qualifiers for next year’s tournament in Qatar, the 29-year-old has bagged three goals in just five games for his country.

Klopp, meanwhile, will be furious if Mane is side-lined for a lengthy period of time given his recent outburst over players sustaining knocks and fitness set-backs while on international duty.

Speaking in October over Curtis Jones picking up an injury while away with England, the Liverpool boss said: “Curtis Jones came back injured from the U21s.

“Great. That’s not okay, It’s really difficult to get proper in contact even with the English federation because they just do what they want.

“Curtis didn’t train, then wasn’t involved in the first game. They didn’t do a scan or whatever, then he played a few minutes in the second game. Who were the opponents? Andorra? Great. Very important that he played there.

“He came back and has a slight injury and is not available for tomorrow. These are the situations we have to deal with. That’s why we have these massive squads so we can use players like machines.

“I’ve said it before, but when the federations don’t start helping us – and I mean all of them, the Premier League, the FA – they have to think about the game again and not only about their own interests.

“I am six years here and we talk about it and it makes no sense, but nobody obviously is listening.”

Mane has enjoyed a stellar start to the league season at Anfield, bagging six goals in the opening eleven games as well as a further two in the Champions League.