LFC’s XI with Mane absent; Coutinho position change key

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As you would have no doubt heard by now, Liverpool are going to be without Sadio Mane for around six weeks after he injured his hamstring on international duty.

There’s no other way to describe this as utterly rubbish news.

The Senegalese has just been nominated for the Ballon d’Or and is arguably our most important player, alongside Coutinho.

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He would have been a shoe-in to start on Saturday against Manchester United, but will now obviously be sidelined, as he will until almost December.

This weekend, we think it’s fairly obvious what Jurgen Klopp will do without the 25-year-old.

Coutinho is equally as comfortable on the left as he is centrally, and although we’ll miss his passing in midfield, he can do plenty of damage starting on the flank and cutting in.

This means that Klopp will likely deploy Mo Salah on the right, Roberto Firmino up top and select a (hopefully) solid midfield trio of Jordan Henderson, Emre Can and Gini Wijnaldum.

However, with Adam Lallana close to a return, Klopp will eventually try and get the Englishman into this midfield to inject it with some much needed creativity, as against lesser sides – Hendo/Can/Gini have struggled to make things happen.

There’s also the option of £35m Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of course, who can either directly replace Mane on the left, or play in the LCM spot Coutinho is likely to vacate.

He’s the wildcard option right now and not one we necessarily expect to see considering how sparingly Klopp has so far utilised the Englishman.

We do have options, undeniably, but nobody who can quite replicate what Mane offers the side.

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