Exhausted Sadio Mane must be rested vs Atalanta
Liverpool must rest an exhausted Sadio Mane on Wednesday.
He has missed just three games all season – two in the Carabao Cup and one in the Premier League, which was a COVID-19 enforced absence.
Jurgen Klopp has criticised the Premier League for their refusal to allow clubs five substitutions per game, even as he continues to give key players massive minutes.
After the Manchester City draw, in which Trent Alexander-Arnold picked up an injury, Klopp was adamant that sides should be allowed to make more changes during the game.
"Goal.com reported that he said: “It’s not an advantage [to be able to use five substitutes], it’s a necessity. It happens in other countries, it was sold completely wrong and now you have this situation.”"
Despite that, Sadio Mane has been granted little respite. In the games he’s played, the Senegal international has failed to complete 90 minutes in the Premier League just twice. Mane was taken off after 80 minutes in the 3-1 win over Arsenal, and in the 89th minute on Sunday.
Additionally, the star has played 60, 30 and 90 minutes in the three Champions League games against Ajax, FC Midtjylland and Atalanta.
What this boils down to is a ticking time bomb for Mane, who must be desperate for a rest. His body has been put under tremendous strain with that extensive involvement, and the game against Atalanta is the perfect time to give the 28-year-old a break.
For a start, it doesn’t really matter if Liverpool win or lose. It does matter, but it doesn’t really matter. The state of the group has given the Reds some breathing space, who are the only unbeaten side in their group.
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Secondly, Liverpool have got excellent rotation options available and can call on Divock Origi, Diogo Jota and potentially Xherdan Shaqiri to fill in for Mane. While Jota played extremely well on Sunday, his workload has been less than his colleagues.
Unlike in defence and midfield, Klopp doesn’t have an injury crisis to deal with and has more quality in reserve. Mane is due a rest, and Wednesday is the perfect time for it.