Liverpool plight accentuated by Coutinho illness and Mane uncertainty

Liverpool's failure to cement their status as favourites for Champions League qualification after drawing with Bournemouth has been accentuated by the potential loss of Philippe Coutinho, injury to Joel Matip, and the continuing uncertainty regarding Sadio Mane.

Coutinho was suffering from illness in the 2-2 draw and was replaced in the second half by Matip, who was only fit enough to be named on the bench for the Premier League clash.

Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to surround Mane, with the club awaiting news on whether the Senegal international will need surgery on the knee ligament damage he suffered during the Merseyside derby win over Everton. The 23-year-old may not play again this season.

The backdrop of Liverpool's increasing fitness problems, with Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson also sidelined, is their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League. The draw with Bournemouth leaves the Reds third in the table with only a six-point advantage over Arsenal and Manchester United, both of whom have two games in hand.

Benik Afobe opened the scoring at Anfield when he capitalised on Georginio Wijnaldum's backpass and beat Simon Mignolet to the ball. The home side toiled but levelled just before the break when Divock Origi's header found Roberto Firmino. His through pass found Coutinho, who stroked the ball into the corner.

Jurgen Klopp's side began the second half in complete control and they were rewarded when Wijnaldum made amends for his earlier error with a dinked cross which Origi converted with ease from two yards out.

However, Liverpool were unable to add to their lead amid the loss of Coutinho, and they were punished via a rare foray into the attacking third by Bournemouth in the second half, with Josh King holding off Ragnar Klavan before firing into the corner with three minutes left.

The result sees Eddie Howe's men go 13th, seven points above the relegation zone with seven games remaining. But with a growing injury list and their form against sides in the bottom half continuing to prove an issue, the problems are piling up for Klopp.

Before the game the German was asked to provide an update as to Mane's condition, but he was unable to further detail his condition. "Sadio is not involved [tonight]," he said, according to the official Liverpool website. "I cannot say more than I said yesterday, but it doesn't look good and that's how it is.

"It doesn't look at the moment like he could play one more game this season, but if somebody wants to surprise me with positive [news] then I am open for this. We will see. There is no final judgement. We have to wait for more assessments and then we will know more."

The Liverpool boss has previously described Mane as impossible to replace in his team and that verdict was substantiated as the home side failed to create regular chances. Origi missed a volley in the first half before Nathaniel Clyne struck the bar, yet the Cherries held firm and deserved to grab a late point.