Liverpool: Mamadou Sakho facing uphill struggle to regain starting spot
Mamadou Sakho was reportedly asked to leave Liverpool in the summer transfer window. After denying to do so, the centre-back now faces an uphill battle to regain a place in the Reds starting 11.
It was a surprise when Mamadou Sakho was ordered to find a new club for this season in the summer transfer window. Jurgen Klopp had other plans for his defense at the time, and according to Liverpool boss’ press conference today, he still does.
Klopp spoke about Sakho having to work his way back into the Liverpool team from the sidelines. Declaring Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren the current starters at center-back, Klopp said it’s up to those guys now to keep the positions.
”It’s about the way they perform, why not?” said Klopp. ”They need to perform, it’s not about being nice guys, it’s about getting results for Liverpool.” So if Lovren and Matip perform, then Sakho will remain on the outside looking in.
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Which is pretty fair. Sakho and Klopp have had their differences this season already and Klopp has been exerting his authority in regard to the French defender ever since. Klopp is trying to set the tone for the rest of the Liverpool squad with this situation.
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The problem comes if the defense continue to leak goals. You can blame the left back situation or pick out individuals, but Sakho’s name is going to crop up more and more if the defense doesn’t improve as a unit.
Then it will get interesting. Will Klopp bring Sakho back? It sends out the wrong message if Sakho is, as it seems, being punished, only to then bring him back when the team loses a game or two. The message is basically do what you want because we really need you.
Klopp will be praying Lovren and Matip forge a solid partnership now. Failing that, that Ragnar Klavan can get healthy and step in to sure things up instead. Whatever happens with Sakho from here on out is sending a message. Exactly what happens will decide what that message is.
Ultimately, Klopp is doing the right thing. But in doing things this way, it now has to be anybody but Sakho for Klopp. No mater what it is. Whether it’s injuries, suspensions, loss of form… Anybody but Sakho. Until at least Christmas anyway. That’s the only way the message is going to ring true.
Klopp ideally wanted Sakho out of the picture until next season, of course. But Sakho played his hand by rejecting the idea. Now Klopp is trying to show he holds all the cards. And he does. But can he really have a winning hand without Sakho in his plans?
We’re about to find out.