Ian Wright told Premier League Productions that Sadio Mane is ‘the one’ for Liverpool and he is the player Jurgen Klopp doesn’t want to lose to injury.
Over the weekend, Mane expressed his frustration at being substituted during Liverpool’s 7-0 win at Crystal Palace despite the game being wrapped up at that stage.
It showed the hunger the £30 million man [Guardian] had in his game that he wanted to stay on the field of play, no matter what.
Wright shared his thoughts on Mane’s reaction from the weekend and how Klopp will ‘pull him’ aside this week to explain why he had to bring him off before the hour mark.
“The thing is when you are at that level, you don’t want to come off,” said Wright. “You want to score the goals.
“Jota’s injured, at the moment. Minamino scored and looked okay. You don’t want to lose him [Mane].
“I am sure Jurgen Klopp will pull him this week and say ‘I just want to rest you. You will get the opportunities to score. I don’t want you to get injured, we are 4-0 up. I need to wrap you up a little bit’.
“He’s the one you wouldn’t want to lose.”
Liverpool’s trophies under Jurgen Klopp
- Champions League
2018/19
- UEFA Super Cup
2019
- FIFA Club World Cup
2019
- Premier League
2019/20
Whilst Mane was the one frustrated on Saturday, his partner in crime, Mo Salah might be the one coming off after 60 minutes on Boxing Day.
Liverpool face off against West Brom, and given the heavy fixture load, Klopp might now just rest Mane and start Salah for that fixture.
Plus, given the opponent, he can afford to do that, but either way, it’s what makes this Liverpool side so ruthless and aggressive in their ways.
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