Liverpool have lost their best player, says talkSPORT pundit
Written By
Ernest SundayA passionate sports journalist with an eye for detail.
Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool have had a poor start to the 2022 season, winning only two of their last six Premier League openers, drawing three, and losing one.
The English Premier League side's expectations to be a title contender this season has been hampered by a slew of injuries, contributing to their draws against Crystal Palace and Everton.
With nine points in their last six games, the Reds appear to be struggling despite signing talented players, including one of Europe's most sought-after strikers, Darwin Núñez, and attacking midfielder Fábio Carvalho.
Following Liverpool's 0-0 draw with Everton on Saturday, talkSPORT pundit Jamie O'Hara believes Jürgen Klopp's team is being hampered by Sadio Mane's absence, claiming they have lost their best player, who left Anfield this summer for Bayern Munich.
"Everyone is chasing City, but I don't think Liverpool are challengers this year," said O'Hara. The injuries have already hurt them; Thiago is a big loss for them.
"They are missing Mane." You can say whatever you want, that Luis Diaz is a replacement, but he is never going to get the number that Mane got. "
Liverpool enjoyed the service of gifted Senegalese midfielder Sadio Mane, who, alongside Salah and Firmino, formed one of the best trios in world football.
During his six-year spell at Anfield, the 30-year-old midfielder was one of the best players on Jürgen Klopp's team, scoring 120 goals in 269 appearances in all competitions before leaving for a new adventure.
Despite signing Columbian star Luis Díaz as a replacement, Liverpool have failed to adapt to a new style of play without Mane, which may have contributed to their poor start to the season, adding to their long injury list.
Sadio Mané, who is currently enjoying a new life with his new club after scoring five goals in seven appearances for the Bundesliga Champions, is claimed to be the missing piece in Liverpool's team.
Besides Mane's painful departure, Liverpool's injury list continues to worry fans, with their best midfielder, Thiago Alcantara, out for several weeks, as well as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and club captain, Jordan Henderson, who face lengthy periods on the sidelines.
Liverpool will turn their attention to the Champions League this week when they travel to Italy to face Napoli in their first group stage match, and Jürgen Klopp will hope for a good result to help them turn their poor form around.