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What would this Liverpool be like without Sadio Mané?
It’s a problem Liverpool haven’t faced in a game of real importance for quite some time. They missed wins against West Ham on the road and Southampton at Anfield between late January and early February, but at the time Liverpool had more or less locked up the title anyway.
Overall, Mané was fit and available for virtually the entire past season, appearing in 35 Premier League games (31 as a starter, four substitute appearances) and making 47 appearances in all competitions.
However, following the unpleasant news last night, Liverpool will be without him for tomorrow’s trip to Villa Park when a 10-day isolation period begins. The main concern here is, of course, Mané’s health (and that of the team in general). Touch wood, like Thiago Alcântara, he recovers quickly and can return to training during the international break before the Merseyside derby on October 17, while hopefully No more positive cases will emerge in the coming days, although, with players flying around the world to compete with their national teams, it is a constant and significant concern.
The secondary concern has to do with how Liverpool make up for their absence against Aston Villa as they look to hold the 100% record and make it 12 points out of 12. Last season, the default solution would have involved a square peg on a round hole. . , with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Divock Origi on the left side of the three forwards, neither of whom can fill that role in a similar way to Mané.
Now, however, Liverpool has several different ways to fill the void in the form of Mané. Diogo Jota is the obvious choice to fit squarely into that role, having done impressively in both games against Arsenal during the week. He may not have Mané’s scorching beat, but stylistically he’s very similar in many ways and makes many similar moves.
It’s one of the main reasons Liverpool bought Jota, to be able to cope long enough in the absence of one of the first-choice attackers without a big drop in quality (although we all anticipate turnover and injury risk as the key factors, rather than a virus). A first league start for the Portuguese may be on the cards then, giving him a chance to build on his promising start and build a good relationship with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
Alternatively, Jürgen Klopp could switch to 4-2-3-1 and play a fluid four-man attack, which could open up space for Takumi Minamino in any of the three positions floating behind the main striker (either Salah or Firmino. ). That system change could still see Jota intervene from the left or, if Klopp wants a little more defensive coverage on that side of the field given the absence of Mané, Naby Keita or Curtis Jones are capable of operating as attacking midfielders in front. . from a double pivot from Fabinho and Gini Wijnaldum (or Jordan Henderson, if he’s fit enough to start).
It’s another blow Liverpool would rather not have to deal with in the current circumstances, but in the meantime, they are far better equipped to deal with it on the pitch than ever before.
What I read on Liverpool.com
Mark Wakefield makes a good point on why Liverpool should aim for the FA Cup this season in light of the League Cup exit last week. This squad is more than enough to challenge for multiple covers now, and it’s an opportunity worth taking seriously once we get to January.
Also, an interesting read by Kristian Heneage on the backstory of FC Midtjylland, who he knew very little about (aside from the fact that they are Danish) when they were selected in Liverpool’s Champions League group.
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