Thierry Henry has claimed that Sadio Mane’s departure from Liverpool to Bayern Munich during the 2022 summer transfer window has resulted in the team being more ‘exposed’ from a defensive aspect this season.
The legendary striker thinks Mane’s work without the ball during his days in Liverpool colours was ‘second-to-none’, but now that very same forward line isn’t producing what he would provide on a weekly basis, as he told CBS Sports (04/10/22 at 7:50 pm).
Whilst Jurgen Klopp’s side picked up a much-needed three points on Tuesday night against Rangers in the Champions League. They also secured a long-awaited clean sheet, but that still doesn’t hide their issues.
During their previous Premier League game, they dropped more points in their 3-3 draw against Brighton, and in truth, they should have been four or five down by the time the clock ticked towards the 30-minute mark, that’s how defensively woeful they were.
Whilst Liverpool struggle to find a balance to their play again, Mane, who has four goals in eight Bundesliga games this season, netted his first of the 2022/23 Champions League campaign when Bayern thrashed Group C whipping boys Viktoria Plzen 5-0 on Tuesday.
Nonetheless, Henry was speaking about Liverpool’s troubles at the back this term and how their problems go beyond just their backline and midfield in a damning verdict.
“I think it’s a team issue,” said Henry. “I remember Carragher previously talking about the midfield and defence. We can talk about the strikers also. That team needs to play higher. He (Klopp) wants them to play higher. I don’t think Liverpool can be defending their box. Whenever they are defending their box, you can see they can’t. They are exposed.
“This is why Klopp doesn’t want to be that low (with his defensive line). I think also the pressure from the strikers isn’t the same. Losing Sadio Mane, people are talking about his goals and what he used to do on the ball, but without the ball, the pressure that he used to put was second-to-none.
“You are now seeing something different with the midfielders and the defenders are getting exposed. Man City recover with the ball, and when Liverpool gets the ball, they go at the same speed as they were trying to recover the ball.”
Carragher on Mane’s goal and assist: “There’s been a lot spoken about Sadio Mane and his start at Bayern Munich, and how it might not be what he would have liked. But I think he has sort of picked up, certainly in the last week or so, and a big Champions League goal, then the assist, with a great first touch.”
WILL A CHANGE OF FORMATION TURN THE TIDE?
In years gone by, where Liverpool have won the Champions League, Premier League title, domestic double, or lost Champions League finals or titles by the smallest of margins, Klopp hasn’t had to change from his 4-3-3 because the team has done ever so well.
The season they did really struggle – behind-closed-doors – saw the majority of their defence injured, so that indifferent campaign was the reason behind those issues.
But currently, there can’t be any excuses about injuries because, at the rate they are going, they won’t be challenging for the Premier League title, but Champions League places instead.
That has forced Klopp to now do something which he previously wouldn’t, and that’s change formation, turning away from his 4-3-3 to play four attackers, as he did during Liverpool’s win against Rangers in the Champions League.
How that affects the team’s performances, especially the defence, will be put to the proper test against top-of-the-table Arsenal on Sunday at the Emirates.
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