Should Liverpool manage the workload of Sadio Mane?
BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks has warned Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp not to ‘overplay’ Sadio Mane because he might ‘live to regret it’.
The 27-year-old was the star of the show for Liverpool over the weekend as they beat Southampton 2-1 at St Mary’s – Mane opened the scoring then set-up what turned out to be the winning goal.
A lot has been made of Mane’s fitness levels after he participated in the Africa Cup of Nations over the summer, and as a result, returned back to Melwood with little rest.
Former striker Crooks warned Klopp that his £34m ace [BBC Sport] might suffer an injury if he ‘overplays’ him this season.
“It might have been the first time Sadio Mane has scored against his old club but even he had to celebrate it, such was its brilliance,” Crooks told BBC Sport. “The Senegal international was on top of his game again after a hectic summer of football in the Africa Cup of Nations.
“While there has been talk of Mane not getting sufficient time off to recuperate from the tournament, he looked sharper and fitter than anyone else on the field against Southampton.
“Jurgen Klopp needs to be very careful not to overplay Mane. If he does and loses the player through injury, he could live to regret it.”
Mane will definitely be in the starting XI when Liverpool take on Arsenal at the weekend because it will be their biggest test to date.
But with the EFL Cup underway, those are the games that Mane will more than likely find himself being rested for.
Added with that, after the festive fixtures, the Premier League, for the first time in its history, will welcome a winter break, which would provide the perfect opportunity for Klopp to rest his key stars.
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