Liverpool forward Sadio Mane will find out on Monday whether he will play again this season after undergoing a scan on his injured knee on Sunday.
The Senegal forward, who scored the opening goal in the 3-1 Anfield victory against neighbours Everton on Sunday, was forced out of the game early in the second half following a heavy challenge by Blues defender Leighton Baines.
Baines appeared to catch Mane’s left foot in the challenge, prompting the Liverpool player to twist his knee as a result of the foul.
Despite attempting to limp down the touchline after being substituted, Mane was unable to walk back to the dressing-room, leaving manager Jurgen Klopp to claim after the game that it “doesn’t look good” when asked about the 24-year-old.
With fears of ligament damage, however, Mane was scanned on Sunday, with the club’s medical staff expecting to know the full extent of the injury within the next 24 hours.
Liverpool, who will be without England midfielder Adam Lallana for the next month due to a thigh injury sustained on international duty, face Bournemouth at Anfield before travelling to Stoke City on Saturday.
And although Mane is expected to miss those games, a positive scan which shows no ligament damage would boost the prospects of the player returning to play a part in the team’s pursuit of Champions League qualification.
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