Liverpool’s front three Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah were all involved in major tournaments this summer.
Leon Osman has warned Sadio Mane about his workload ahead of his return to Liverpool following international commitments at the Africa Cup of Nations this summer.
The former Everton man also claimed that Liverpool’s front three were ‘very fortunate’ last season because they didn’t suffer many injuries, though he warned that may not be the case ahead of the new campaign.
Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino, who took part in the AFCON and the Copa America this summer, only returned to pre-season training on Monday, with Mane, who moved to Anfield in 2016 for £34 million [BBC Sport], is due back after the community shield clash against Manchester City.
Speaking to the Monday Night Club on BBC Radio 5 Live (29/07/2019 at 9:45 pm), Osman warned Mane about his lack of rest ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
“Mane played in the final and has three weeks off,” Osman told BBC Radio 5 Live. “Has he had enough time [off] mentally and physically? His fitness wouldn’t have dropped that much.
“But you are asking a guy to continue to play at an extremely high level. To play the way Jurgen Klopp desires, which is closing teams down and getting about teams. He’s going to have done that and probably had three weeks rest in two seasons. It’s an incredible amount of running that Klopp desires off his team to continue to do that.
“They were very fortunate that their front three, who they rely on so heavily, only Firmino in the last 10 days/ two weeks, picked up an injury over the course of the season. You are asking them to do that again this season without having a rest. That’s why I feel Liverpool really need another striker to help them along this season.”
Mane’s Senegal were beaten in the Africa Cup of Nations final at the hands of Riyad Mahrez’s Algeria, with both Liverpool and Manchester City set to contest the community shield this Sunday.
Liverpool’s lack of transfer activity will be a worry because it does seem as though they need some fresh legs through the door.
One area that would be a concern is at left-back because whilst Andy Robertson is one of the best fullbacks in Europe there is no backup option if he were to get injured.
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