Carra’s Origi criticism; suggests Reds would have won with Mane
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool would have walked away from Manchester United with all three points had Sadio Mane been available to Jurgen Klopp.
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The forward is away for a minimum of of four weeks while on duty for Senegal at the African Cup of Nations and Carragher believes his presence was badly missed by the Reds, who were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s late equaliser.
Speaking in the Sky Sports studios after the match, Carragher reckons Mane’s absence also highlighted the difference between the Senegalese and his replacement for the day, Divock Origi.
“It’s another game that you look and think what might have happened if Liverpool would have had Mane,” the former Liverpool defender said.
“Divock Origi was giving the ball away that much he had to come off and he’s the only one with pace so there was a front three who didn’t really penetrate in behind.
“If Mane had been playing I think he would have made a massive difference.”
Liverpool’s next Premier League game is at home to Swansea and the hosts are heavy favourites to claim all three points against bottom-of-the-table Swans.
Carragher, however, felt Liverpool can take plenty of pride from their performance, which he felt owed as much to the inspirational leadership of Klopp.
“I feel one of Jurgen Klopp’s biggest strengths is lifting people and going into this game there was trepidation with Liverpool supporters,” he added on Super Sunday.
“The run Manchester United were on, seeing Liverpool’s performance at Southampton, the injuries they got and then you see the team-sheet with the young lad playing at full-back but the way Klopp’s handled the press by saying he can’t wait for the game and he’s looking forward to it was excellent.
“Every other Liverpudlian was thinking it was going to be difficult and that they’d take a draw before the game.
“From a Liverpool point of view, and any team really, when you are winning with six minutes to go it does feel like two points dropped but in the morning you can look at it and say it’s one point gained and you are back up there close to Chelsea.”