Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is confident his side can cope after losing their star forward Sadio Mane for the rest of the Premier League season.
Mane has been ruled out for at least eight weeks after an awkward collision with Everton’s Leighton Baines and will require a surgery before coming back to action.
This blow has come as the title race is heating up, with many questioning the Red’s squad depth and the possibility of finishing in the top four without Mane’s goals.
The gaffer however believes his side are capable of performing without the Senegalese international and pointed to the chances Liverpool created in the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth as testament of their capability.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“I know everyone was talking before about how we miss Sadio Mane and we do miss Sadio Mane but he doesn’t help us too much in defending and we created enough chances to have scored more,”[/perfectpullquote]
“Again, around the second goal, Sadio would not have been too much involved in defending so the influence of missing Sadio was not too big. “
“That’s why it felt like it did at the end. It could have been good. It could have been the perfect game in terms of the result, a bad start, coming back at this stage of the season with a sick Phil [Coutinho] and a tired Roberto [Firminio], all that stuff. “
“It could have been the perfect result but unfortunately between perfect and difficult to accept – sometimes it is only a second…”
This is not the first time Liverpool will have to play without their star attacker. During the wake of the January African Cup of nations, Liverpool’s direct attacking threat surely became non eminent without the player.
Mane has 13 goals and 5 assists in the league but his contribution for the side goes beyond goals and assits. His ability to press up field, his lightening pace and ability to beat players upfront with ease has been a match made in heaven for Kloop’s system.
His importance to the side became evident when the Senegalese travelled for the African Cup of Nations. Liverpool struggled winning just one of their seven fixtures in all competitions.
They were knocked out of the EFL Cup, the FA Cup and dropped out of contention for the EPL trophy in a space of just a month.
It’s obvious Liverpool fans were hoping to have the Anifield fan favorite back soon but they will have to wait for next season to see him in action.
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