Here's your Liverpool FC morning digest for Tuesday, May 31.
Sadio Mane exit could see Liverpool lose 'three players' as Julian Ward challenge becomes clear
Jurgen Klopp used 37 different players across Liverpool’s 63 matches in all competitions this season, with a further eight men being included in match day squads. The Carabao Cup campaign provided a good example of the options available to the Reds’ manager, as the 33 players who made an appearance broke down in to three very plausible starting XIs.
Even with a squad as large as this, it still helps to have people who can fulfil multiple positions, to cover when needs must. The bad news for Liverpool is that they might lose two of their most versatile players this summer.
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James Milner has played in every position bar centre-back and goalkeeper across his illustrious career and is a very useful ‘jack of all trades’. He is out of contract this summer, though the club are hopeful he accepts their offer of a one-year extension.
With all due respect to the great man, his days as a regular starter at Liverpool are behind him. It would be sad if Milner were to leave and he would be a definite loss to the squad, but as he only made 14 starts in all competitions in 2021/22, his departure would not leave a massive gap in the XI on a regular basis.
The same cannot be said for Sadio Mane, who may leave the club this summer in search of a new challenge. Only three players made more starts for the Reds in this campaign, which is remarkable considering the Senegalese forward missed seven games in order to win the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mane also began more matches in the front three than any other player too, with his total of 46 starts there pipping Mohamed Salah by one. While that margin was small, there was one way in which the two were miles apart and it could prove problematic to Liverpool should the former Southampton man move on for pastures new.
Salah’s 45 starts all came in his favoured position on the right of the front three. As he shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Son Heung-Min and also took the playmaker crown for most assists, it was clearly correct to play the Egyptian in that position.
But Mane performed well across the front line this season. While he wasn’t the only player to start in all three forward positions in 2021/22 – Diogo Jota and Takumi Minamino did likewise – Liverpool’s number 10 was the only one to begin at least 15 matches in two of the roles. Few players in England performed as well as he did in either position too.
In his more recognised slot on the left, Mane scored nine Premier League goals, the most (excluding penalties) of any player in the division who started matches there. A few (including Luis Díaz) scored more frequently on a pro-rata basis but nobody equalled his total.
Read the full story HERE.
Richarlison makes Alisson and Fabinho claim after Liverpool final admission
Everton forward Richarlison admitted he was backing Real Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday, but says club rivalries are put aside when they're on international duty.
The Brazilian is currently away with his national side following the end of the campaign and was speaking to the media when he was asked about the final. Liverpool were defeated 1-0 by Real Madrid at the Stade de France and Richarlison admitted he was backing his former manager to beat the Reds.
He said in a press conference: "To be honest, I was cheering for (Carlo) Ancelotti. He was with me at Everton last year and I have done a great job with him, learned a lot of things and I even sent a message to him before the match wishing him good luck.
"That's it, Fabinho and Alisson are coming here, as well as (Liverpool goalkeeper coach, Claudio) Taffarel too. We have a rivalry in the city, but here at the national team, we are all friends. We talk to each other and that's it."
Read the full story HERE.
