Breaking Down How Liverpool Can Best Deal with Absence of Sadio Mane
Liverpool will keenly miss Sadio Mane over the coming weeks.
While some raised their eyebrows when the Reds forked out approximately £30 million (the exact value varies from source to source) to Southampton for the forward, Mane has made a sensational start to his Anfield career.
Per Transfermarkt, he has scored nine goals and managed five assists already this season while playing mainly from the right side of a front three.
However, Mane has now departed Liverpool to join up with his Senegal team-mates ahead of the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations, which takes place in Gabon.
The 24-year-old believes his club colleagues can cope without him, as he told David Lynch of the club website:
"We are in good position but now what's more important is the direction. Everybody knows that and will be ready for the next games.
It won't be easy for me to leave because I would like to help them but I think they will understand.
We have done good work and we have a strong team so it will be no problem, they will do it.
"
The exact timing of Mane's return depends on Senegal's progress in the competition. If they go all the way and lift the trophy, his next Liverpool appearance could be the league fixture with Tottenham Hotspur on February 11.
There's some good news for Reds fans, though: The Lions of Teranga have never lifted the cup—and they failed to even get out of their group in the 2015 edition of the tournament.
Yet even if Senegal suffer another early exit and are done by January 23, Mane will still miss one FA Cup tie (against Plymouth), two Premier League games (away at Manchester United and home to Swansea City) and, potentially, both legs of the EFL Cup semi-final against Southampton.
So, Liverpool must find a way to prosper without one of this season's star performers. Here, Bleacher Report breaks down the solutions to life without Mane.
Daniel Sturridge's Time to Shine
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Mane's absence is an obvious blow, particularly as Liverpool play both Manchester United and Chelsea in Premier League action before the end of January.
However, if you're the optimistic type, one man's (or should that be Mane's) loss can be another man's gain.
When the Senegalese player was sidelined for the league trip to Burnley back in August, Daniel Sturridge stepped in to take his place in the starting lineup.
Liverpool lost 2-0 at Turf Moor, and the England international has been on the periphery of the team since. That isn't all down to selection, though, as a calf injury sidelined him for four league games.
Sturridge made an impact on his return; it was his shot that came off the post to allow Mane to tap in a dramatic winner in the Merseyside derby against Everton on December 19. He bagged his first Premier League goal of the season eight days later in the 4-1 triumph over Stoke City.
He started—and scored—in the 2-2 draw with Sunderland on Monday, albeit playing as the central forward in a 4-3-3 system.
Per WhoScored.com, Sturridge has made three appearances on the right wing this season. He has failed to contribute a goal or assist from that position, suggesting he's more potent playing through the middle.
Liverpool bos Jurgen Klopp, though, knows that both Roberto Firmino (11 appearances as the central forward) and Divock Origi (five appearances) suit his style, not necessarily with the ball but most certainly without it.
In October, Adam Bate of SkySports.com wrote: "Klopp places huge importance on winning the ball back high up the pitch. It's fundamental to his philosophy of counter-pressing. Sturridge doesn't do it well."
That pressing philosophy goes for the entire team. The not-so-busy Sturridge is a luxury you can afford to pick for certain opposition, but he may not feature so often against your top-four rivals.
Sturridge should be worried about his chances of facing Manchester United at Old Trafford—Liverpool improved when he was replaced by Adam Lallana in the reverse fixture at Anfield earlier in the season.
Put Your Best Foot(Baller) Forward
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If Klopp wants someone with a high work rate to replace the ever-willing Mane, he need look no further than Adam Lallana.
The England international is a certainty to start somewhere when fit, and more often than not this season, he's lined up in a midfield role.
However, when it came to facing Manchester City on Saturday, the Liverpool boss left both Origi and Sturridge on the bench as he opted for Lallana in his attacking trio.
The former Southampton player provided the cross for Georginio Wijnaldum's winning goal. He also ran his blood to water, as Andy Warren pointed out for the MailOnline:
"The England international played the full 90 minutes in both of Liverpool's [New Year] games - a 1-0 victory over Manchester City on New Year's Eve and a draw with Sunderland on January 2 - putting in the hard yards in both matches.
His effort against City saw him run 12.88km (8 miles) as Georginio Wijnaldum's thumping header secured all three points, before he bettered his own running display less than 48 hours later as he covered 13.22km (8.21 miles) as Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light.
"
According to WhoScored.com, Lallana has made four appearances as a wide forward this season. That cross against City was his only assist in those games, compared to six (along with seven goals) from midfield.
While there are obvious plus points to picking him further forward (even if he doesn't quite have Mane's electric pace), in doing so, Klopp would subtract something from another area of his team.
Philippe Coutinho could also be considered to fill the berth, yet the Brazilian hasn't featured since the 2-0 win over Sunderland in November due to an ankle injury.
Still, his impending return at least gives Klopp options.
Dip into the Transfer Market
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If you believe what you read, Liverpool may be set to buy enough forwards to fill an entire XI in the January transfer window, let alone shore up Mane's vacated role.
The names vary on a scale of possibility: If a deal for Jese seems doable, considering his lack of action at Paris Saint-Germain, suggestions such as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wilfried Zaha appear to be stretching across the border that separates reality and fantasy.
But, if there is no smoke without fire, the Reds are looking to make an addition to their squad.
Emil Forsberg is the latest name to be linked.
The Swede has impressed for surprise package RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, and his agent told Bild (h/t Stephan Uersfeld of ESPN FC) "big clubs" have reached out to him.
Klopp won't panic buy, however. He is on a long-term mission at Anfield (remember, he signed a contract extension last July), so he isn't looking to take a risky punt for short-term gain.
Football managers are no different to shoppers at the January sales. While some are impulse buyers who cannot resist a purchase, others would much rather give it a miss and stick with what they have.
"It should not be a solution only for the winter. Squad building is obviously a very important and sensitive thing," Klopp said, per Glenn Price of ESPN.co.uk.
With Mane temporarily absent and Danny Ings out for the season, the forward options are looking thin.
But even if the Reds make a purchase before the window closes, it will be with the aim of improving the squad for much longer than just the month of January.
Give Youth a Chance
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Klopp has never been afraid to promote from within the ranks.
Youth coach Gary Gordon gave an insight into working with the German during his time at Borussia Dortmund.
"He [Klopp] likes to make his own stamp and say 'I brought him through from the academy didn’t I?'" Gordon told FourFourTwo. "That gives the whole club a kick. If you just keep buying, then what does that say to the rest of the youth crews? There’s no point in trying because nobody is coming through."
In the second half of last season at Liverpool, particularly once the Europa League became priority No. 1, Klopp turned to youth to plump up his first-team squad.
Sheyi Ojo, for example, made eight Premier League appearances in the 2015/16 campaign.
The forward has yet to feature at all this season, although a back problem kept him out of action until November, per Transfermarkt.
Now a fully fit Ojo could be ready to step up and make an impact in January.
The player told Daniel Matthews of the Liverpool Echo: "[Klopp] has mentioned to me that he wants to give me an opportunity which is nice."
Ben Woodburn is another forward option. Still only 17, he scored his first senior goal in the 2-0 League Cup win over Leeds United last November just days after making his Premier League debut off the bench against Sunderland.
Picking either Ojo or Woodburn to play at Old Trafford, for example, would be a huge gamble, but don't think Klopp isn't willing to put his faith in youth.
Change the Formation
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Variety may well be the spice of life, but some football managers do not like to shift from what they know.
Perhaps Ricky Tomlinson's lead character put it a little too bluntly with a famous (and expletive-containing) catchphrase during the film Mike Bassett: England Manager, but fiction was based on a degree of fact.
In truth, football formations are flexible, no matter how much Bassett loved 4-4-2.
While Klopp has preferred 4-3-3 (or a slight variation on it) this season, that is not to say he isn't willing to change when the need arises.
Just look at the different systems that Liverpool have played since his arrival, according to Transfermarkt.
In the EFL Cup tie against Tottenham in October, the Reds played in a 4-4-2 formation that included a diamond midfield and a forward pairing of Sturridge and Origi.
While the personnel in midfield would be different (Jordan Henderson did not feature in the matchday squad against Tottenham, while Emre Can and Lallana were both named on the bench) from that game, could the same system work in the Premier League with Mane away?
Origi's presence would give Klopp a central forward to press high up the field.
If Henderson played as the anchor of the diamond, any combination of Can, Coutinho, Firmino, Lallana and Wijnaldum further forward would provide energy, enthusiasm and oodles of attacking intent.
Rather than slot in a direct replacement for Mane from the players he has at his disposal now, or indeed sign one in the transfer window, Klopp could opt to shuffle his pack and still find a winning hand.
What would you do to replace Mane for the next few games? Have your say via the comments section.
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