Liverpool hope James Milner will return within a month after suffering a hamstring injury against Manchester City.

Milner has a slight hamstring tear, but the damage does not appear to be as serious as initially feared when he was substituted in the first half on Sunday. That will be a relief to manager Jurgen Klopp given his shortage of midfielders. He is still waiting for Adam Lallana’s return and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a long-term absentee.

With summer signings Naby Keita and Fabinho yet to fully adjust to English football, Klopp has come to rely heavily on his first choice midfield trio of Milner, Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum.

After a schedule Klopp described as ‘crazy’ Liverpool play teams nearer the bottom of the table after the international break.

Virgil Van Dijk says the high levels shown against title rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will count for nothing if less highly-rated opponents are not shown the same respect.