Jurgen Klopp is currently attempting to find a solution to Liverpool ’s poor start to the campaign.
The Reds’ indifferent beginning to the 2022/23 campaign continued with a 4-1 thumping at the hands of Napoli on Wednesday and should the German fail to rectify the current poor form, then it appears unlikely that the Merseysiders will challenge for the Premier League, Champions League and in fact any other major trophies.
Whilst Klopp will be racking his brain over what has caused the alarming slump in form, the only difference between this season and last has been the departure of Sadio Mane - and the decision to allow him to join Bayern Munich already appears to have been the wrong one.
His former attacking colleagues do not look anywhere near top form, Mohamed Salah in particular struggling to put together consistent displays and that is indicated by his underwhelming record of just two goals from his opening six league appearances of the season.
Whilst individually, Liverpool’s attacking players are already stuttering, they are also failing to sync together as an attacking unit. Since Mane’s departure, the Reds’ pressing statistics have fallen dramatically. Throughout last season, the Reds produced approximately 141 presses per league game - 45 of those coming in the final third.
Those numbers are considerably lower this season with just 113 pressers per match in the Premier League with only 33 of those coming from the side’s attacking players. Whilst only six games have been played, it shows a very worrying trend for Liverpool.
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Klopp was also warned of those particular consequences should he allow Mane to leave Liverpool. Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville was a huge fan of the Senegalese’s ability to press.
Speaking after a 2020 win against Chelsea, he said: "Well we'll admire to start with, Sadio Mane. He is an exceptional talent but his work rate is equally exceptional.
"He presses, he harasses, he does everything you would want a football player to do on the ball and off the ball.
"He gives the ball away. And look at that reaction to given the ball away; the anger, the anticipation. Forget Kepa we know he takes a chance.
"Mane knows he takes a chance. It's brilliant from the Liverpool forward."
Whilst the forward’s absence in the Liverpool attack has certainly been felt from an attacking standpoint, the 30-year-old’s goal record has to be the most tangible loss felt as a result of his exit.
Mane scored 23 goals for Liverpool last term - the second most prolific season of his entire Anfield career and whilst the hierarchy on Merseyside have attempted to bridge that gap with the signing of former Benfica forward Darwin Nunez, the Uruguayan only has one Premier League goal to his name thus far.
Meanwhile, Mane has enjoyed a seamless start to life at the Allianz Arena with five goals in his first eight appearances of the season.
Whether Klopp regrets sanctioning Mane’s exit remains to be seen but it cannot be disputed that his move away from Anfield has directly contributed to the club’s underwhelming start to the season.
