Jordan Henderson's season has come to a premature end after sustaining a knee injury in Liverpool's 3-1 win over Brighton on Wednesday.
The Reds captain was in visible discomfort as he limped off the pitch after a coming together in the final stages at the Amex Stadium.
Jurgen Klopp spoke to reporters on Friday as he confirmed Henderson will sit out the remainder of the season, although there is good news as he does not require surgery.
Despite initial fears that Henderson could be absent for the start of next season, Klopp insisted the hope is the skipper will be back in action by then.
Klopp also confirmed Henderson will lift the Premier League trophy as planned against Chelsea in Liverpool's final home game of the season later this month.
"Hendo is actually really the best possible of all the bad news. It is a knee injury, but no surgery needed," Klopp said.
“He will not play anymore in the latter stage of this season but I am pretty positive he will start with us the new season.
"We were all concerned in the moment we saw him in going down and when he left the pitch and stuff like this.
Jordan Henderson WILL lift the Premier League trophy 🙌 🏆 pic.twitter.com/3zTTijKtRl
— Liverpool FC News (@LivEchoLFC) July 10, 2020
“Yesterday when we got the news, it was a big relief for all of us. It is not cool, obviously, but it is the best we could get. Hendo will be back; he is a quick healer and he will be back soon.
“He deserves to lift the trophy and he will lift the trophy.”
The boss also admitted Henderson's injury was a "mood killer" for his players despite their 3-1 win over the Seagulls.
“We all felt very much that it was an awful moment when he left the pitch immediately,” he added.
“He is as we say in Germany an animal, he fights with everything, if there's pain he will never tell you, he deals well with pain.
“So he knew something happened which should not, it was a complete mood killer. Everybody felt for him, absolutely. But he deserves to lift the trophy and he will do.
“No surgery is the good news and all the rest we can make the decisions and Hendo will lift the trophy.”
Meanwhile, Henderson sent a message to Liverpool supporters as he said he hopes to be back in action in "just a matter of weeks."
Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images
"Unfortunately following the knee injury I picked up against Brighton on Wednesday I will now miss the last two weeks of the season," Henderson wrote on Twitter.
"However, my rehabilitation will start immediately and I'll be working hard to be back to full fitness in just a matter of weeks in order to be fully ready for the start of the new season.
"Of course it's not the way I'd have preferred to have finished the season on a personal level but it's been an incredible campaign for us so far as a team and as a club and I'll be doing everything I can to support the boys for the final games from the sidelines.
"I'm sure the lads will ensure we finish the season off on a high.
"Thanks to everyone for the messages of support and I look forward to being back out there as soon as possible. #YNWA"
