Mamadou Sakho to miss “a few weeks”

Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho will miss the next few weeks with a slight strain he’s picked up in training, according to manager Brendan Rodgers.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 23, 2014: Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho in action against Middlesbrough during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The French international was seen walking out of Anfield prior to the Merseyside derby on Saturday and hasn’t flown with the squad for tonight’s Champions League match in Basel.

However, Rodgers claims the 24-year-old picked up an injury in training since Saturday and that’s why he will miss “a few weeks”.

Speaking of Sakho’s walkout, Rodgers said “It [the walk-out] is not something we expect from our players. We have spoken, he knows the situation and he has apologised. We move on.”

Sakho’s exclusion – whether actually due to injury or not – means an opportunity for Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren to form a centre-back partnership. Although it does leave only Kolo Toure as cover in the position.

Sakho was signed for £18 million from PSG last summer, identified by Rodgers at the time as being the future of the club’s defence. The boss has since signed Lovren for £20 million, seemingly replace the Frenchman.

The fact Sakho’s injury is not actually detailed, stated only as a “slight strain” and with few details, skeptics will ponder whether he is actually injured.