Liverpool team news: Sadio Mane a doubt after breaking thumb but Virgil van Dijk ready to face Huddersfield

Jurgen Klopp is already sweating on the fitness of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk for Saturday's game

Sadio Mane could miss Liverpool’s trip to Huddersfield Town in the Premier League on Saturday after breaking his thumb on international duty.

The 26-year-old forward was taken to hospital after sustaining the injury in training prior to Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan on Sunday, and scans confirmed the fracture.

Senegal won 3-0 without risking Mane, and reports suggest he could remain sidelined when Liverpool return to Premier League action at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Virgil van Dijk returned to Melwood after featuring in only one of Netherlands’ two matches in the October international break, sustaining a blow to the ribs in their shock 3-0 win over Germany.

Salah and Van Dijk will both be monitored by Liverpool’s medical staff ahead of the Huddersfield match, with reports claiming that the Egyptian is unlikely to recover in time.

Van Dijk, however, is a more positive case, with Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman backing the defender to be fit for Liverpool when the Premier League resumes.

"Virgil has played with two broken ribs in the last weeks," Koeman told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. "He wanted to play against Germany but you have to give the club something back now.

"He [Van Dijk] spoke to the manager. The medical staff of the Dutch national team spoke to the medical staff of Liverpool and made the decision that he was playing only the Germany game and then after back to Liverpool. He is ready to play next weekend."

James Milner is also expected to be out for a month due to a hamstring injury sustained in Liverpool’s goalless draw with Manchester City, with his earliest potential return date the trip to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal on 3 November.

After winning all of their first seven matches in all competitions, Liverpool are winless in their last four games and have failed to score in their last two outings.