Liverpool ace sent home from pre-season tour as Anfield future thrown in doubt

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Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho has returned home from the club’s pre-season tour of the United States, with claims his future at Anfield is in danger.

The French international was banned for three months after failing a drugs test last season over a diet pill, as reported by The Independent, but after UEFA opted not to take further action, it appeared as though he was set to resume his Reds career.

According to The Sun, the official line from the club itself is that Sakho has returned to receive treatment on an Achilles injury that will see him miss the start of the season, but it’s still suggested that there is unrest between the two parties.

The Liverpool squad arrived in California over the weekend, and so the decision to fly Sakho back so soon after is certainly one that has garnered suspicion from the British media.

Further, given that many stars fly out to the US to receive treatment, it certainly seems an odd move to fly him back when he could very well get the same level of care across the pond.

The Sun add that the former Paris Saint-Germain ace was the only player to turn up late when the squad joined up to fly out, with Jurgen Klopp opting to take almost the entire group with him to help build team spirit.

Many have picked up on a video between the pair taken from their trip to Alcatraz as a possible sign that there is unrest between them, as seen below, but at this stage that is purely speculation and it appears for the most part that Klopp is merely having a bit of fun.

In contrast, Liverpool have signed Joel Matip already this summer, and the coaching staff have high hopes for Joe Gomez who will likely join Ragnar Klavan and Dejan Lovren in a fight to secure a place in the starting line-up.

In turn, it remains to be seen what it means for Sakho’s future, as although at this stage it doesn’t appear as though he is set for an imminent exit, the signs aren’t particularly encouraging.

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