Sadio Mane could have avoided his sickening clash with Manchester City keeper Ederson – according to the man who replaced him.

Claudio Bravo came off the bench following the appalling challenge that forced Ederson off on a stretcher and saw Mane shown a straight red card.

While Liverpool got behind Mane and said there was no intention on his part to injure Ederson, Bravo said the forward could easily have pulled out of the challenge.

“These things are avoidable,” said Bravo. “You can easily avoid putting your foot in somebody's face so you don't do them damage.

“At first I thought that he had hit him in the hip, but then I saw clearly that he got him with the face.

Ederson is challenged by Sadio Mane (
Image:
AFP)
Ederson receives medical attention (
Image:
AFP)
Sadio Mane of Liverpool receives a red card (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

“You go from being on the bench watching the game and within seconds you're out there playing.

“Us goalkeepers know this can happen, but you never expect it.

“I wouldn't have wanted to play for a reason like this, an injury to a team-mate, but you always have to be prepared.”

Mignolet, who shipped five goals in Liverpool's emphatic defeat, defended Mane and said the episode was a simple accident.

"I don't think Sadio ever had the intention to touch his head or anything like this,” said Mignolet.

Claudio Bravo replaces Ederson (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)
Bravo celebrates at the Etihad (
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)
Video Loading

“I want to wish Ederson well. I've had it before when you have to jump into people's feet and you have to be brave. It's always dangerous.

"You can't really think about what might happen - Sadio just thought about the ball and went for it. He didn't see what was coming just after it.

“In those kind of situations, both players go for the ball. Sometimes these things can happen.

“Hopefully it won't happen too often and you don't want it to create difficulties for anybody.

Gabriel Jesus scores past Simon Mignolet (
Image:
Getty)
Mane reacts to his dismissal (
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)

"You just hope everything goes well [for Ederson] and it sounds like it has.

“It happens in any sport, sometimes there is a certain moment or occasion when things happen the wrong way.

“The main thing is that nobody has the intention. Luckily Ederson is okay."

Mane will serve a three-match ban following his dismissal, while Bravo is likely to start for City in Wednesday's Champions League opener away to Feyenoord.

poll loading

Was Jon Moss right to send off Sadio Mane?

32000+ VOTES SO FAR