Liverpool injury news: Mamadou Sakho to return to action in 'four to six weeks'

Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho expects to return to action from the knee injury he sustained during the defeat against Crystal Palace before the international break in "four to six weeks". The France international says everyone thought he would be out for an extended period but is now optimistic he will play again soon.

The 25-year-old won the Standard Chartered player of the month for October after forging an impressive partnership with Martin Skrtel in the heart of the defence. However, his promising start to the season appeared to suffer a huge blow during the defeat against Palace on 8 November after he was forced to leave the pitch in the 40th minute of the game.

The defender was ruled out for the France international games against Germany and England amid reports claiming he faced more than two months on the sidelines with knee ligament damage. But speaking ahead of the Manchester City game earlier in November, Klopp said the player would return sooner than expected.

"Mama is good news. It's not that serious as we thought in the first moment..." Klopp said at the time. "We don't want to give you a time – you can ask every day – but it's not Christmas 2016! So that's good. Between now and 2016! [Laughs] It's good news, it's not too serious."

The defender has now confirmed the news and says he is on the road to recovery.

"I'm very happy because I think it's good news. Everyone thought I had a big injury for a long time," Sakho said to Liverpool's website. "But, thank God, I think it will be between four and six weeks. We will see the evolution. Now I feel much better, I work and I hope I will come back as soon as possible.

"For me, it's not difficult. I take my injury like that because I can change nothing. I know which way I have to go, which road I have to take. I have the objective to come back as soon as possible, as strong as possible. When I come back I will try to give my best like before."