Liverpool are missing Sadio Mane’s goal-scoring abilities, according to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Oxlade-Chamberlain started his third game in a row last night as Liverpool fell to defeat against Brentford. In the absence of Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, the 29-year-old has been doing his best Mane impression on the left-wing.
Last night, that impression included a nicely taken headed goal which the Senegal legend would have been proud of. And, speaking to LFCTV after the 3-1 loss, Ox said he’s tried to take some bits from his former teammate’s game.
“I’ve watched Sadio and Mo play that position for years and one thing that they have both done outstandingly well is provide goals for the team,” said the forward.
“It’s a bit different when Darwin is playing through the middle because he’s such a threat in behind. When Bobby plays that role he usually drops a bit deeper and fills that half space.
“That has been my role from there, being the one who drops deep and tries to link but ultimately get up with Darwin and Mo’s pace and get in and around the box. That’s the thing the last few games I’ve been missing, that real goal threat, so it was nice to sort of get that chance and take it tonight – it’s just a shame it doesn’t mean anything.”
Liverpool lose their ‘mentality monster’
Much has been made of Liverpool’s struggles without Mane this season. Sure, on night’s like yesterday, it’s easy to start missing the Ballon d’Or runner-up.
But it must also be remembered that the 30-year-old was hardly the most clinical of finishers either. Mane scored 130 goals for Liverpool across six seasons at the club. Had he been a more natural finisher though, he could have had dozens more.
It would be fair to say that Liverpool do miss their former No.10 to some degree, though. One thing he never showed was a weak mentality. As the Reds lurch from complacency to fragility, they could do with Mane’s steely will to win.
‘Sadio Mane wants to win the title more than you.’ So the saying went when the Senegalese dragged Liverpool to wins throughout both 2018/19 and 2019/20. Whatever his teammate’s attitudes, Mane never hid, never dropped his intensity.
And so, perhaps that’s what Liverpool miss far more than his goal threat. With Cody Gakpo now added to the ranks as well as Luis Diaz, Jurgen Klopp certainly isn’t short of firepower in that area of the pitch.
But what you can’t replace is the effect of having such a mentality monster around the team day-to-day. As Ox mentions, Mohamed Salah is another role model for his teammates. Without Mane though, things are certainly different.
source: https://www.rousingthekop.com/
