Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has downplayed injury fears over Sadio Mane.
The Reds forward was pictured with ice on his right leg after being substituted in the 60th minute of Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Ajax in the Champions League.
BT Sport
However, Klopp confirmed Mane had a dead leg in Amsterdam.
He said: “It’s still painful but not a problem. When he doesn’t play he has ice on it.”
A 35th-minute Nicolas Tagliafico own goal ensured Liverpool started their 2020/21 Champions League campaign with a win.
Mane’s scuffed shot, which was heading way off target, fortuitously deflected in off Tagliafico’s boot.
It was also a much-needed clean sheet for the Reds in their first game without influential defender Virgil van Dijk, who will miss most of the season with a serious knee injury.
However, there were some nervy moments for Klopp’s side as Fabinho pulled off a superb goal-line clearance, before Davy Klaassen hit the post in the second-half.
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Along with Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah were hooked off on the hour mark, with Klopp possibly having one eye on this weekend’s Premier League clash against Sheffield United.
The attacking trio were replaced by Diogo Jota, Takumi Minamino and Xherdan Shaqiri.
Explaining the triple substitution, Klopp said: “Game management is one thing, the other thing is to use the power of the others.
“They were fresher, they were the hardest working. It’s a shame Diogo didn’t score, Shaq was lively, unbelievable, and Takumi is a machine, he’s everywhere.
“He defends like a devil and offensively he’s really important. There were nice one-twos with Diogo. That helps.
“We can make five changes [during a Champions League game], probably most of the time we will have to do that.”
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