Liverpool struggled without Sadio Mané early in the season, but recent results indicate that Jürgen Klopp’s side is moving on without him
With Liverpool being inconsistent at times this season, the club’s recent transfer decisions have come under scrutiny. With one star struggling since leaving Merseyside for the Bundesliga, it appears that the Reds were right to cash in after all.
Despite a recent dramatic improvement in form, it is fair to say that Liverpool’s season has been a letdown, especially when compared to their exploits last season, when they came within a whisker of completing a quadruple. Many observers questioned the logic of selling one of Jürgen Klopp’s greats during the season’s more difficult periods.
Of course, Sadio Mané left Anfield last summer after a storied six-year stay, joining Bayern Munich for an estimated fee of $35 million (£28 million/€32 million) and becoming the first member of the iconic Reds front-three trio to move on, along with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino. In fact, the wisdom of selling the Senegalese ace was routinely questioned during the early months of this season, amid some struggles for his heir and some poor results.
Darwin Nez looked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders for much of the first half of the season, saddled with the perception of being the Liverpool legend’s successor and a hefty price tag of $105 million (£85 million/€98 million). His new club was not faring much better, with the Reds effectively squandering any realistic chances of winning the Premier League by the time the winter break for the World Cup arrived, having won just six of their first 14 matches.
Mané, on the other hand, had a steady start to life in the Bundesliga, notching six goals and three assists in his first 14 league games for the club. However, it is fair to say that this calendar year has been nothing short of a nightmare for the 31-year-old, who has been living in a nightmare since the beginning of the year.
A cruel fibula injury in November would keep the superstar forward out until February of the following year, with his return to action also marred by his struggles to reclaim his place and a high-profile dressing room spat with Leroy Sané. Following the altercation with his teammate in the aftermath of a Champions League loss away at Manchester City, Mané was banned by his club for one game, and the forward has struggled to find starting spots this season, with only one goal and three assists.
To make matters worse, it appears that the former Kop favorite has been deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Thomas Tuchel, with his days at the Allianz Arena potentially numbered after only one season. According to Sky Sports Germany, Mané may return to the Premier League this summer, with Newcastle United and Manchester United keeping an eye on his availability.
Klopp, however, does not appear to be offering his former club an escape route. In some ways, Liverpool has been in this situation before, with Klopp’s stance following Philippe Coutinho’s struggles since leaving the club indicating that the Reds will not sign the Senegal captain this summer.
In contrast, Liverpool’s fortunes have improved in 2023, thanks to the arrival of attacker Cody Gakpo in January and the return of fellow forwards Luis Daz and Diogo Jota from long-term injuries. Despite their early-season struggles, the Reds are unbeaten in eight games and have won seven in a row, putting them in with a real chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
The sale of Mané last year may have affected Liverpool’s form in the early months of this season, however, the Reds’ recent fortunes suggest the club is moving on without him. The future suddenly looks bright on Merseyside and it looks like Klopp may have made the right call last summer.
Although Firmino will be the second member of the famous front-three to leave the club at the end of the season, it is clear that Klopp now has an extremely strong hand in terms of attacking options. The Reds’ recent form suggests that the team has found a rhythm, and fans will have seen enough evidence this year to suggest that the club has now filled the void left by Mané’s departure.
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