Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed that defender Mamadou Sakho's injury is not as bad as first feared.
Sakho was thought likely to be out of action for six to eight weeks with knee ligament damage, something which was a blow to Liverpool given his solid form in defence.
But Klopp says that the news regarding the France international defender is not as bad as first feared and joked he will not be out until Christmas 2016.
Speaking at a press conference, Klopp said: "Mama is good news.
"It's not that serious", he continued.
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"So we don't want to give you a time so you can ask every day, but I think it's not Christmas 2016!
"But it's good news, not too serious."
Klopp will no doubt be hoping Sakho can return to action in time for Liverpool's busy festive fixture list as the Reds seek to come out the other side in the new year within touching distance of the Premier League's top four.
Sakho's replacement meanwhile, Dejan Lovren, knows he has a more limited amount of time in which to make the position in defence his own by impressing Klopp.
