Virgil van Dijk has insisted that Sadio Mane's summer departure to Bayern Munich is not the reason for Liverpool's difficult start to the Premier League season.
In six glittering seasons at Anfield, the Senegal international played a pivotal role in Jurgen Klopp's transforming of the club from perpetual underachievers to Premier League and Champions League winners.
Mane scored 23 goals in all competitions last season as Liverpool secured further domestic honours in the FA and League Cups and narrowly missed out on further glory in the league and in Europe.