Liverpool currently sits 9th in the Premier League standings, and a major reason behind the Anfield side finding themselves in the mid-table is a poor defensive performance. The Merseyside club has already conceded 16 goals and Center Back Dejan Lovren has been associated with errors more often than not. Former Liverpool player Phil Thompson had earlier pointed out that the Reds have failed to find a quality replacement for Jamie Carragher, now believes that they made a big mistake by selling their best defender this season.
Phil Thompson suggested that selling Mamadou Sakho was a big mistake that Klopp committed. Sakho spent the second half of previous season at Crystal Palace and secured a permanent move this summer on the transfer deadline day. Thompson talked to Liverpool Echo where he mentioned that the Frenchman was the best defender at Anfield.
“You can never disregard any player because you never know when you will need him,” he said in consideration of Liverpool’s defensive struggles.
“He was a warrior and a fighter. People say he looked ungainly but you knew what you got with him.
It is said that Sakho had some issues with Klopp which was a major reason why he left the Reds in favor of the Eagles.
“I know there were issues off the field with Sakho and the manager took him out of the first team set-up.
“I was always a disciplinarian. It was one of the reasons why I was brought back into the football club by Gerard Houllier. But three months is plenty to isolate someone.”
He 27-year old defender though played only a mere eight matches for them last season, managed to keep a clean sheet in half of them. Sakho played an important role in the Eagles’ survival in the top flight. He also put up a commanding display against Arsenal in a 3-0 drubbing.
Even though Crystal Palace have struggled this season, Sakho has been a somewhat decent performer. He was rock solid at the back as they beat holders Chelsea. He featured in 13 defensive actions that game, more than anyone else that day.
Sakho has been decent so far at Crystal Palace.It is in the knowledge of everyone that Liverpool’s defense has let it down this season, and Sakho seems amiss at Anfield this season. They failed to sign van Dijk this season and have struggled so far. Liverpool needs to come up defensively stronger if they are to finish somewhere near the title.
