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Football

Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp Explains Sadio Mane Substitution Against Chelsea

Liverpool Winger Sadio Mane
Liverpool Winger Sadio Mane

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has explained why he decided to take off Sadio Mane against Chelsea at the weekend.

Mane was in action for Liverpool in their Premier League game against Chelsea away from home at Stamford Bridge in London on Sunday evening.

The 27-year-old winger started the match and played for 71 minutes, as the Merseyside outfit won 2-1.

Trent Alexander-Arnold put Liverpool in the lead as early as the 14th minute with a wonderful free kick, and Roberto Firmino headed home on the half-hour mark to put the Reds 2-0 up and in full control.

N’Golo Kante halved the deficit for Chelsea in the 71st minute, but Liverpool did not concede another goal and picked up all three points from the encounter.

Encouraging display

Mane was playing well for Liverpool when Klopp decided to take off the Senegal international for James Milner in the 71st minute.

The former RB Salzburg and Southampton took one shot, had a pass accuracy of 74.1%, made two tackles and two interceptions, and attempted three dribbles during his time on the pitch at Stamford Bridge.

Injury

Klopp told Liverpool’s official website about Mane’s substitution against Chelsea: ā€œIt was a knock on the bone, around the knee, and a dead leg – that’s an awful combination.

ā€œHe tried everything but I think you saw, there was one counter situation when he really tried and I would say on a non-dead-leg day he will get that ball, but no chance and then we say ā€˜come on, now we have to do it’ and changed. That’s it.ā€

Title Challenge

The win against Chelsea means that Liverpool are at the top of the Premier League table at the moment with 18 points from six matches, as many as five point clear of second-placed and defending champions Manchester City.

The Reds are back in action on Wednesday evening when they take on Milton Keynes Dons away from home in the third round of the EFL Cup.