Liverpool will begin the defence of their Champions League crown against Napoli on Tuesday night.
Andy Gray has claimed that, at this moment in time, Sadio Mane is more important than his Liverpool teammates Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah.
The former Scotland striker admitted that it’s ‘bonkers’ to think that someone like Salah would be the least important out of Mane and Firmino.
All three were in action for their side at the weekend, with Firmino coming off the bench and helping the Reds secure all three points against Newcastle – Mane netted a brace and Salah got the other goal.
Outspoken TV pundit Gray believes that players like Mane and Salah get the most joy out of scoring a goal, but he feels Firmino may get more joy out of providing an assist for his teammate.
“If I were to lose one, and I know this sounds bonkers, it would be Salah,” Gray told Bein Sports. “I think our poll would say because he scores more goals, Mane is the most important one.
“I think Liverpool fans do [understand what Firmino brings to the table]. I think if you watch him week in, week out, you can’t help but admire and respect what he does. So, he’s very different from them.
“Mane and Salah get great joy out of scoring a goal, less so out of creating a goal. I think Firmino almost gets as much joy of doing what he did for Salah [against Newcastle] than if he had scored himself. That’s how I see them in the level of importance to Liverpool, right at this moment. Mane, Firmino then Salah.”
All three are set to be in action for Liverpool on Tuesday night as they begin the defence of their Champions League crown in Italy.
The Reds have travelled to Naples where they will take on Carlo Ancelloti’s Napoli, who could be one of the underdogs for this tournament this season.
Ajax were the surprise package last season, as they were beaten by Tottenham in the semi-final, who then went on to suffer a defeat to Liverpool in Madrid.
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