Mamadou Sakho future in doubt after Klopp sends him home from Liverpool's US Tour

The centre-back has been cleared to play again following a temporary ban for an adverse finding in a routine drugs test, but has an Achilles problem that will stop him from featuring in the first match of the Premier League season, against Arsenal on Sunday 14th August.

Despite the injury, however, he was taken to Palo Alto in California by Klopp, along with other injured players Joe Gomez and Lucas Leiva, in an attempt to enhance team spirit before the new season.

Now the France international will return to Merseyside to have treatment on his injury after reported issues over his attitude on tour, where he is said to have clashed with his German manager on at least two occasions. The club would not comment on anything apart from the simple fact he is flying home to England but the decision comes ahead of any of their matches – against Chelsea, AC Milan and Roma – which start on Thursday.

The 26-year-old’s absence leaves Liverpool light in defence after an injury to Joe Gomez and the departures of Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure.