"The worst business ever" - Paul Merson on Liverpool selling Sadio Mane

Former Arsenal player Paul Merson believes that Liverpool should not have sold Sadio Mane ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

The winger departed Anfield and joined Bayern Munich for a transfer fee of €32 million during the recent summer transfer window.

Recently, Merson made it clear that he did not agree with Liverpool's decision to move Mane on.

“I’ve said it from day one, in my opinion, selling Sadio Mane was the worst business ever,” the pundit told Sky Sports.

“The bloke scores big, big goals. Go through them, first goals, equalisers, winning goals in last minutes, big goals.

“He led from the front with his closing down, and for me, what they sold him for, I just didn’t get it. Darwin Nunez isn’t in the same league at the moment. Not in the same league at all.

“Their problems at the back start from the front. They’re not closing down as a unit – you can go on about how talented that front three was, but they closed down from the front. It only took one more pass, and they’d score.

“Now they don’t – so teams get through that press, if there is one, then they’re into a midfield three which isn’t the best in the country, and then you’re running at the back four.

“How many players have run at (Virgil) Van Dijk this season, compared to the last three or four years?

“It doesn’t matter how good a player you are when you’ve got people running at you left, right and centre.”

Anfield Watch Verdict

Mane was a superb player for Liverpool between 2016-22. The winger found the back of the net 120 times and registered 49 assists in 269 appearances for the club's first-team.

Mane won six major trophies with the Reds.

However, the Senegal international made it clear that he wanted to try something new at the conclusion of last season. Mane was also out of contract come next summer.

The Reds are not short of attacking options (Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Roberto Firmino).

So, we can see why Liverpool moved Mane on. We wish the forward all the best heading into the future.