Sadio Mane Suffers Leg Injury vs. Everton

Liverpool's Sadio Mane could be set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a leg injury in the Merseyside derby against Everton.  

ESPN FC reported Mane limped off from the crucial derby clash in the second half. 

After the match, manager Jurgen Klopp told reporters "it didn't look like" Mane would be ready to play in Wednesday's match against Bournemouth. 

The 24-year-old joined the club from Southampton in the summer and has become one of the Reds' most important attacking players.

While the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino are capable dribblers, neither possesses Mane's incredible pace, which makes him a real threat out wide on the counter-attack and a valuable outlet ahead of Nathaniel Clyne on the right flank.

His chemistry with the two Brazilians has also been vital to the Reds' dynamic attacking play—he was sorely missed during the Africa Cup of Nations, as Liverpool crashed out of the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the Premier League title race in his absence.

Adam Lallana occupied his slot on the right during that time, but while the England midfielder has enjoyed an exceptional campaign, he lacks the pace and width of Mane.

The alternatives to Lallana aren't ideal replacements, either—Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge are more effective at centre-forward and would likely need Firmino to move out wide to accommodate them.

James Milner started out his career as a winger, but the ever-versatile 31-year-old has been filling in at left-back this season and is also far slower than Mane.

Manager Jurgen Klopp could opt to field 19-year-old Sheyi Ojo—the youngster is strong and quick, and he would be able to provide something of a like-for-like replacement for Mane—but he's not nearly as incisive or consistent yet.

If the Reds are to do as well as they can down the stretch this season, they need Mane fit and available.