Photo: Mamadou Sakho sad to leave ahead of Watford v Liverpool

Mamadou Sakho’s return to the Liverpool side appears to be bitter-sweet after the centre-half bidded his youngest daughter an emotional farewell on Saturday morning.

The France international is in contention to make a return to the Liverpool first-team after a month-long lay-off following his knee injury during the Reds’s 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace at Anfield on 8 November.

Sakho landed awkwardly following an aerial challenge and the former Paris Saint-Germain defender was eventually replaced by Croatia international Dejan Lovren, who formed a promising partnership with Martin Skrtel in Sakho’s absence.

However, the 26-year-old centre-half succumbed to injury last weekend after Craig Gardner’s robust challenge during a 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion in a dramatic Premier League game at Anfield.

Lovren’s injury setback leaves the door open for Sakho to return to the Liverpool starting line-up, and Sakho was sad to leave his youngster daughter Sienna behind as he prepared to travel with his Reds team-mates to London.

Sakho wrote on his Instagram page: “Big hugs before leaving !!! @sakhofamily #matchthisweekend #LFC #Liverpool #SakhoFamily #YNWA”

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The France defender moved to Liverpool in a £16m deal from PSG in 2013.