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Jamie Carragher admits ‘concern’ over Sadio Mane fatigue for Liverpool


Jamie Carragher is worried about Sadio Mane suffering from fatigue (Getty Images)

Jamie Carragher admits he is concerned by Sadio Mane’s lack of rest and believes the forward’s performances could decline for Liverpool if he is not given a recovery period.

Mane reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal this summer but opted to return to Liverpool early and has featured in all three of his club’s matches so far this season.

But Carragher has warned Jurgen Klopp about the dangers of overusing Mane if he not given sufficient rest.

‘Mane has become so important that Klopp is understandably reluctant to leave him out and let him have a proper rest,’ Carragher wrote in his column for the Daily Telegraph.

‘He has played in 53 club games since the start of the 2018-19 season. Of all the forwards throughout the entire Premier League, only Salah has played more than his 4,515 minutes.

Sadio Mane has featured in all three of Liverpool’s games this season (Getty Images)

‘Liverpool’s season did not finish until June and he was then away with Senegal in the African Cup of Nations, playing seven matches.

‘The last was the final on July 19 against Algeria and yet he was still involved in the first match of the Premier League season three weeks later against Norwich City.

‘It was similar the summer before when he played in the World Cup and was then away with Liverpool in America in the International Champions Cup.

‘In an ideal world, Mane would have been rested this season until after the first international break and not started under September.

‘Klopp said after Saturday’s win against Southampton that no footballer should play more than 50 matches a season, especially in what he called the “intense positions”, and he has the resources in midfield to address this concern.

‘His use of Mane, however, unfortunately already suggests that Liverpool’s squad is not strong enough in the attacking positions.

Jurgen Klopp was been urged to give Mane a period of rest (Getty Images)

‘Mane himself has said that tiredness is only mental and that he has never had a holiday that lasts longer than 20 days since joining Red Bull Salzburg in 2012.

‘I truly hope he is right but you cannot keep defying your body and my big worry is that there will be a drop off without a carefully scheduled rest.

‘How Liverpool absorb either scenario could very well decide whether another Premier League challenge can be sustained.’





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