Mamadou Sakho faces a potential 12-month ban from football after the Liverpool defender tested positive for a banned substance.
Traces of a weight loss supplement were found in Sakho’s sample following the Reds’ Europa League last 16 clash with Manchester United last month following UEFA’s random drug test.
The France international has until tomorrow to request that European football’s governing body analyses his ‘B’ sample from the Old Trafford encounter on March 17.
Should that also return positive, Sakho threatens to be suspended for up to 12 months.
It has since emerged that the centre-back, who has been omitted from selection until an outcome is reached, returned to Anfield out of shape last summer, which saw him overlooked for his first outing of the season until mid-September.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists that the controversy over Sakho, which has added a further selection headache to an already injury-hit squad will not be allowed to derail the club’s bid to reach the Europa League final.
He said: “We cannot change things. They are all different situations.
“The whole season has been very intensive, But the players are not injured because they are tired. In a moment, it happens. Hendo (Jordan Henderson) was completely different to Emre (Can). Divock (Origi) was a senseless challenge.
“Momentum is not about having the best squad ready to play. Momentum is to be ready to fight.
“Villarreal also have had a lot of games. They play after our game against Real Sociedad and have a little fight for the Champions League.
“We need to be prepared. It isn’t about always having the best players but being perfectly prepared for our next game. Then we can go on.”