Sadio Mane's season is over with Jurgen Klopp "pretty sure" the Liverpool forward will now require surgery on a knee injury.

The £30million signing was pictured in a knee brace this week after falling awkwardly during the game with Everton last weekend and now the Reds' worst fears have now been realised following medical tests.

Losing Mane for the rest of the campaign is potentially disastrous for Liverpool's top-four hopes - since joining the Anfield club last August he has missed just four Premier League games but Liverpool have not won a single one of those fixtures.

Indeed, while he was at the African Cup of Nations in January, Liverpool drew at home to League Two Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup, lost at home to Wolves in the same competition and were defeated home and away by Southampton in the EFL Cup semi-finals.

Mane has 13 goals and five assists in the league, but his contribution to the team has been far greater than that with his ability to beat players at speed and press from the front proving crucial in Klopp's system.

Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Alisson - 7 Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 9, 2019 Liverpool's Alisson during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Phil Noble EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. PHIL NOBLE REUTERS Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings James Milner - 8 epa07355863 Liverpool's James Milner (L) in action with Bournemouth's Ryan Fraser (R) during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Bournemouth held at the Anfield in Liverpool, Britain, 09 February 2019. EPA/PETER POWELL EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications PETER POWELL EPA Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Joel Matip - 8 Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 9, 2019 Liverpool's Joel Matip in action with Bournemouth's Joshua King Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. JASON CAIRNDUFF Action Images via Reuters Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Virgil van Dijk - 7 Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) Rui Vieira AP Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Andrew Robertson - 8 Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 9, 2019 Liverpool's Andrew Robertson during the match REUTERS/Phil Noble EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. PHIL NOBLE REUTERS Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Georginio Wijnaldum - 8 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on February 9, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Alex Livesey Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Fabinho - 7 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with teammate Fabinho during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on February 9, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Alex Livesey Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Naby Keita - 7 Liverpool's Guinean midfielder Naby Keita (L) vies with Bournemouth's English midfielder Dan Gosling (R) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 9, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Mohamed Salah - 8 Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (C) celebrates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 9, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Roberto Firmino - 8 Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 9, 2019 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino in action with Bournemouth's Jefferson Lerma Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. JASON CAIRNDUFF Action Images via Reuters Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Sadio Mane - 7 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Sadio Mane of Liverpool scores the opening goal and celebrates during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on February 9, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) John Powell Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Artur Boruc - 6 Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 9, 2019 Bournemouth's Artur Boruc reacts after conceding their second goal scored by Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. JASON CAIRNDUFF Action Images via Reuters Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Adam Smith - 6 Bournemouth's English defender Adam Smith prepares to take a throw-in during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 9, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Steve Cook - 6 Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 9, 2019 Liverpool's Sadio Mane in action with Bournemouth's Steve Cook Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. JASON CAIRNDUFF Action Images via Reuters Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Nathan Ake - 6 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool scores his team's second goal under pressure from Nathan Ake of AFC Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on February 9, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Alex Livesey Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Diego Rico - 7 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUIN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool with Diego Rico of Bournmouth during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Bournemouth at Anfield Stadium on February 9, 2019 in Liverpool , United Kingdom. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) John Powell Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Jordon Ibe - 5 Bournemouth's Jordon Ibe, left, is challenged by Liverpool's Andrew Robertson during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) Rui Vieira AP Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Dan Gosling - 6 epa07355913 Bournemouth's Dan Gosling (L) in action with Liverpool's Naby Keita (R) during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Bournemouth held at the Anfield in Liverpool, Britain, 09 February 2019. EPA/PETER POWELL EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications PETER POWELL EPA Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Jefferson Lerma - 6 Bournemouth's Colombian midfielder Jefferson Lerma has an unsuccessful shot during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 9, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Andrew Surman - 6 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool battles for possession with Andrew Surman of AFC Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on February 9, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Alex Livesey Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Ryan Fraser - 7 Bournemouth's Scottish midfielder Ryan Fraser reacts during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 9, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Bournemouth player ratings Josh King - 6 Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 9, 2019 Bournemouth's Joshua King in action with Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. JASON CAIRNDUFF Action Images via Reuters

Liverpool's medical staff were hoping they could avoid an operation but the decision has been taken to write off the forward's campaign and get him fit again for pre-season.

"I am pretty sure Sadio will need surgery but I am not 100 per cent sure when it will happen, but then it is clear 'season over'," said Klopp.

"That is what I half-expected when I saw him after the game. I felt he was lucky that not more happened but we are close enough to the end of the season that it will be pretty much impossible to play again this season.