Paul Merson believes Liverpool's decision to agree to sell Sadio Mane this summer was the ‘worst business ever’ - adding his absence in pressing from the front is the key to the team's current problems.
Mane left for Bayern Munich at the end of June with the German club paying up to £35m for the Senegal forward, who had entered the final year of his contract and looked unlikely to sign an extension. The 30-year-old enjoyed an incredible six-season spell at Anfield, scoring 120 goals across all competitions and winning both the Champions League and Premier League plus many other honours.
The Reds had already signed Mane’s successor in January by bringing Luis Diaz in from Porto ahead of schedule, but decided to reinforce their front-line with the addition of Benfica striker Darwin Nunez for an initial £54m. However, whether directly related or consequential, Mane’s departure has coincided with a poor run of form that has seen Jurgen Klopp’s side win just two of their opening seven league games.
