Jamie Redknapp believes that Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to Southampton on Wednesday night proves that they are going to miss Sadio Mane dearly.
The forward has temporarily left the Reds to play for Senegal in the African Cup of Nations, and could be away until early February if his country make it to the final.
Before leaving for the competition, the 24-year-old scored an impressive nine goals in 19 Premier League appearances, as well as grabbing five assists.
‘Liverpool fans’ fears were missing Mane, and it was so evident tonight. You could see it, they’re a totally different proposition when you play against them,’ Redknapp said on Sky Sports.
‘You’ve got a lot of players tonight that want the ball to feet, a lot of good technical players. Daniel Sturridge wants the ball to feet. When you’ve got Mane in the team he runs the other way.
‘He gives a completely different dimension, tonight was a lot of what I saw of Liverpool last season, Mane has changed that.
‘They missed the captain, Jordan Henderson, we shouldn’t underestimate what he does, he brings energy to that midfield, I think they really missed his energy, influence and drive in there.
‘But Mane is the one, and he’s the one that worries me the most. He’s going to miss an awful lot of games, I think along with Joel Matip he could miss six or seven games if Senegal go far, that worries me.’
While Redknapp is mistaken in thinking that Matip is also going to the AFCoN, he could have a worrying point for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
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