Dias Is Good, But This Is How Liverpool Are Missing Sadio Mane

Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace
Already 4 Points Behind Rivals Manchester City
Are Liverpool Missing Sadio Mane Already?

Liverpool impressively earned a 1-1 draw at home to Crystal Palace despite being a man down for most of the second half. The Reds have now opened their season with two draws which has seen them fall behind City early in the Campaign.

Match Report – Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace

Liverpool are yet to win in the Premier League this season as Palace have held them to a second successive draw. The Reds will be disappointed not to have won this game, especially after Nunez’s second-half red card left them in the lurch. Palace worked hard but did little going forward apart from score in the first half, and Diaz’s spectacular goal salvaged a point for the hosts.

Diaz is good, but this is how Liverpool miss Sadio Mane

Liverpool Miss Dynamic Sadio Mane

It is evident that Liverpool miss Sadio Mane on the flanks already this season. The Senegalese joined Bayern Munich this summer after 6 successful years in Merseyside.

In the first half of Liverpool’s opening match of the season, The Reds struggled to control the game, but that was not due to Sadio Mane’s absence. However, in the second half after equalizing against the Cottagers, Liverpool struggled to penetrate into the opponents box.

CONSISTENT REAL START WITH A WIN

ANTONIO CONTE AIMS DIG AT THOMAS TUCHEL

Mane’s heat map from Liverpool’s first two matches last season

At Liverpool, Sadio Mane had all the answers from the left hand side of attack. The Senegalese offered Liverpool more dominance in attack than Luis Diaz currently does.

Against Crystal Palace, Diaz had an good game. However, analysis shows that the Colombian stuggles to penetrate and stretch defenders like Sadio Mane used to for Liverpool.

Diaz’s Heat Map against Fulham and Palace

This factor could limit Liverpool’s chances against teams that are prepared to sit deep. Dias is a great option, who will understand Klopp’s system better as time goes on, but even his goal against Crystal Palace shows that he is always forced out of the box.

Diogo Jota will help Liverpool reduce this effect with his direct runs and better positioning. However, as the Portuguese is still out injured, Liverpool might struggle to break down some defensive teams.