Sadio Mane was ‘surprised’ to have been hauled off at half-time during Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid, according to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Senegal international has been in outstanding form this season, spearheading the Reds’ relentless pursuit of a first domestic league title in 30 years.
Mane, having recovered from a slight hamstring strain, scored the winning goal last weekend at Norwich as Liverpool, temporarily, moved an astonishing 25 points clear of Manchester City.
Liverpool’s hopes of defending their Champions League crown, however, took a severe dent in midweek where Diego Simeone’s obdurate side managed to protect the advantage they earned through Saul Niguez’s fourth minute goal.
Klopp was unhappy with Atletico’s players who he accused of bending the rules in his post-match press conference and felt he had no option but to take Mane off at the break given the former Southampton winger was already on a booking.
‘I spoke this morning to him and asked him if he was surprised and he said yes,’ revealed Klopp ahead of Monday’s home match against West Ham.
‘I didn’t believe we’d finish the game with 11 if we kept him on the pitch. He’s completely fine, he’s rested.’
Defeat at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, the scene of Liverpool’s triumph against Spurs last June, represented a first loss in any competition since December when a team of youth players were hammered by Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup while the first team squad were on duty at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Klopp added: ‘The difference between winning a losing is massive – much more than three points. That’s how it should be. We want to put it right.
‘From sunshine to hardest rain, and that is how it should be. If you really want to be successful, then it has to feel really bad.
‘It felt like a defeat, the next morning it felt like a defeat. But it’s like we said after the game it’s not done yet. We know Anfield alone won’t sort it, so we will put the proper performance in.’
More to follow…
