Patrice Evra has claimed that "people don't want to admit" the departure of Sadio Mane has played a large part in derailing Liverpool's season.
The Reds have drastically underwhelmed so far this season and currently languish in ninth in the Premier League with six defeats from their opening 18 games. There have been many suggestions put forward by fans and pundits alike as to why Liverpool have struggled so desperately, but Evra has posed his own theory.
The Frenchman has sung the praises of Mane and his impact at Anfield while the Senegal international continues to enjoy a relatively impressive if not sensational start to life at Bayern Munich. The 30-year-old has six goals and three assists in 14 Bundesliga games.
Speaking on behalf of Betfair, Evra gave his thoughts on where it's all gone wrong for Jurgen Klopp's men this term: "People don’t want to admit it but Sadio Mane leaving has damaged their season, I’m sure they will recover next season but not now.
"I know things aren’t down to just one player, but he was a big part of Klopp’s plan and people don’t want to be honest about it, he was so important for this Liverpool team, he was the core of the team."
Up next for the Reds is the visit of fellow strugglers Chelsea. Few could have predicted before a ball was kicked this season that by the time these two met a Anfield they would sit ninth and 10th in the league table respectively.
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Sheding light on how he thinks the contest will play out, Evra admitted he is keen to see Chelsea's new £87million-man in action in Mykhaylo Mudryk, who joined from Shakhtar Donetsk just under a week ago.
"This is a match between two teams under fire. I hope Chelsea play Mykhailo Mudryk. When you look at their team, wow, but the question is how will Graham Potter make them play together as a team, not as individuals.
"Liverpool got trashed against Brighton, Jurgen Klopp keeps repeating himself and wants to get back to basics, play, control and pass the ball. If either team wins, it’s not like we’re going to say it will save their season, it will be just for the prestige."
Liverpool can take some comfort from the fact that their meeting with the Blues on Saturday afternoon is at home. Their form on Anfield turf has been significantly better than when on the road.
As for Chelsea, though they tend to fare better on their travels than Liverpool do, Potter's men have only won one more game away from home this season than the Reds have having played a game more.
Defeat for either one at Anfield this weekend would surely end the losing side's hopes of European football next season.
