Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insists Mamadou Sakho is part of his plans.

Sakho is awaiting his first minutes on the pitch.

But Rodgers said, “Mama is an important part of our squad.

“At the moment he's not in the team but he's working hard in training and hopefully looking to do everything he possibly can so when the opportunity does come – because invariably it does come somewhere in the season – that you're ready to take the opportunity."