SADIO MANE has tested positive for coronavirus and will miss Liverpool’s trip to Aston Villa on Sunday.
The Senegal winger, 28, has joined new-signing Thiago Alcantara in returning a positive result for Covid-19 this week.
The pair will now both sit out the Premier League clash with Villa on Sunday, with Thiago already missing his side’s Carabao Cup penalty shootout defeat at home to Arsenal on Thursday.
Liverpool confirmed Mane had exhibited some “minor symptoms” of coronavirus but overall fells “in good health”.
Despite that, Mane will now miss the game against Villa, spared from being left out of more only due to the upcoming international break.
A statement read: “Sadio Mane has tested positive for Covid-19 and is currently self-isolating according to the necessary guidelines.
“The forward, who started and scored in Monday’s 3-1 victory over Arsenal, has displayed minor symptoms of the virus but feels in good health overall.
“However, like with Thiago Alcantara, Liverpool Football Club are – and will continue to – follow all protocols relating to Covid-19 and Mane will self-isolate for the required period of time.”
In the last seven days, there have been 1,306 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Merseyside – up from 577 the previous week.
Liverpool is now on the brink of becoming the first UK city to be hit with a ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown.
Mane will now likely be replaced by new-boy Diogo Jota in the starting line-up.
The ex-Wolves ace started the cup defeat against the Gunners having scored off the bench in the Premier League clash against the same opposition on Monday.
Thiago, 29, had previously missed the 3-1 win over the Gunners in the Premier League in mysterious circumstances.
While remaining tight-lipped on the reason, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp confirmed the Spaniard would be return after the international break.
Klopp claimed: “After the international break he will be fine, for sure.
“That’s the situation in the moment. He is not fit enough to be involved today, but that’s it.”
