Jürgen Klopp revealed that he is "really limited" in what he can talk about regarding Mamadou Sakho's failed UEFA drugs test last month.

The Liverpool manager was asked about the defender's situation after the final whistle of their 2-2 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

Though Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana put them in cruise control at half-time, Papiss Cisse's header and Jack Colback's deflected strike allowed the Magpies to snatch a 2-2 draw on Rafael Benitez's Anfield return.

Nevertheless, the game was overshadowed by the revelation that emerged just hours before kick-off when it was revealed that the France international had failed a drugs test after the Reds' 1-1 Europa League quarter-final second-leg draw with Manchester United on March 17.

With further stories having suggested Sakho was tested positive for a fat-burning drug, Klopp was asked about whether the 26-year-old defender could be set for a lengthy ban - but admitted that he could say very little on the situation.

Klopp has little to say on Sakho's situation

"I'm really limited in what I can say," the German admitted, insisting that there is "an official statement from the club" as to what the message from Liverpool is and that "there's nothing else to say in this moment."

Klopp added that he has had "no chance" to speak to Sakho himself, but told the media that he had known about the incident "since yesterday when we went to the hotel."

Sakho celebrates scoring in the Merseyside Derby on Wednesday night. (Picture: Getty Images)
Sakho celebrates scoring in the Merseyside Derby on Wednesday night. (Picture: Getty Images)

Having never previously any of his players in such a situation, Klopp admitted it is "not the most easy situation" for him to navigate, continuing that "all we could say about this, we will say next week when we know more probably."

Questioned about if Sakho would have played against Newcastle on the weekend if the test results had not emerged, Klopp added: "I heard about it before I made the line-up so I've no idea."

He said that they have "changed a lot of players in the last few games" but concluded: "There's nothing to say about us missing Mama today."

Sakho potentially facing lengthy playing ban and fine

The centre-back, who has scored two goals in his last two games in a 4-3 win over Borussia Dortmund in Europe and a 4-0 derby victory over Everton in the league, has until Tuesday to request UEFA analyse the B sample he submitted.

With UEFA having said in a statement that "there are no disciplinary proceedings opened at this stage", the former Paris Saint-Germain defender won't learn his fate until at least the end of next week.

But it won't be good news to Sakho that his fellow Liverpool defender Kolo Toure spent as long as six months out after being tested positive for a weight-loss "water tablet" that his wife was prescribed whilst at Manchester City.

An independent FA panel decided on Toure's ban, although they could have extended it to two years had it not been for mitigating circumstances that assessed the use of the tablets.

Should Sakho receive similar punishment, he would miss the rest of the current campaign, the European Championship in his home country this summer as well as at least two months of the 2016-17 season.

As a club, Liverpool will not have any action taken against them - with the rules stating that at least two players needed to be involved in potential doping for them to face any penalties.

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About the author
Charlie Malam
Digital Sports Writer at the Daily Express. First-class Staffordshire University Sports Journalism graduate. Formerly VAVEL UK's Liverpool FC editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief. Contributor since June 2014.