Liverpool played a 0-0 draw against 10 men Arsenal in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi final at Anfield, and Paul Merson says that Liverpool fans would be concerned without their star wingers Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane as both players are away on international duty at AFCON.
Liverpool’s front line of Minamino, Firmino and Diogo Jota were unable to break a stubborn Arsenal defence even though the Gunners were down to 10 men midway through the first half after Granit Xhaka’s was sent off after a foul of Diogo Jota. The absence of Salah and Mane was evident and Paul Merson compared the Reds to their title rivals Manchester City and Chelsea in terms of having squad depth.
“My biggest worry if I was a Liverpool fan? Salah and Mane, ‘If they play tonight, it’s a different story. It just shows you. I watch other teams play, I watch Man City you can take two players out of their team, you can take two out of Chelsea. Take two out of Liverpool, and it’s completely different.” Paul Merson said on Sky Sports.
Can Liverpool get the results in the absence of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane ?
Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have been two of the most important and consistent players for Liverpool for quite sometime now, and their absence was evident as Liverpool failed to score against 10 men Arsenal. Mo Salah has 23 goals and 9 assists in all competitions this season, while teammate Sadio Mane has 10 goals and 1 assist.
Former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher agreed with Paul Merson and said that the pair have played almost every single game for Liverpool for a long time now.
Here is what Jamie Carragher said “Liverpool have always had a great 13 or 14 players they could really rely on. The big thing where Liverpool, I wouldn’t say have been lucky, but what’s brilliant about Salah and Mane is they’re never really injured. They play every single game.”
Liverpool take on Brentford at Anfield on Sunday in the Premier League and the fans will surely want Jurgen Klopp’s men to score a few goals and react to the performance against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.
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