"Losing Sadio Mane" - Thierry Henry on what Liverpool have lost defensively

Former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry has explained why Liverpool are missing Sadio Mane.

The winger was a terrific player for the Reds. Mane scored 120 goals and registered 49 assists in 269 appearances for Liverpool's first-team.

But, the Reds sold the Senegal international to Bayern Munich for a transfer fee of €32 million during the recent summer transfer window.

Henry believes that Liverpool are missing Mane's defensive work more than his goals.

“I think it’s a team issue,” he told CBS Sports (04/10/22 at 7:50pm UK time).

“I remember (Jamie) Carragher previously talking about the midfield and defence. We can talk about the strikers also. That team needs to play higher. He (Jurgen Klopp) wants them to play higher. I don’t think Liverpool can be defending their box. Whenever they are defending their box, you can see they can’t. They are exposed.

“This is why Klopp doesn’t want to be that low (with his defensive line). I think also the pressure from the strikers isn’t the same. Losing Sadio Mane, people are talking about his goals and what he used to do on the ball, but without the ball, the pressure that he used to put was second-to-none.

“You are now seeing something different with the midfielders and the defenders are getting exposed. Man City recover with the ball, and when Liverpool gets the ball, they go at the same speed as they were trying to recover the ball.”

Anfield Watch Verdict

Henry might be onto something. Liverpool have scored 18 goals in seven Premier League fixtures so far this season.

Finding the back of the net has not been an issue for Jurgen Klopp's team in the early stages of the new campaign.

However, the Reds have shipped nine goals in England's top division this season, which is not ideal.

Therefore, perhaps Liverpool are missing Mane's defensive work. But, the winger has departed Anfield.

The Reds need to find a new way to deal with opposition attacks.