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Liverpool: 5 Reasons why Jurgen Klopp’s men are struggling in 2017

By Craig Pearson

DERBY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Jurgen Klopp manager / head coach of Liverpool before the EFL Cup Third Round match between Derby County and Liverpool at iPro Stadium on September 20, 2016 in Derby, England. (Photo by James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images)
DERBY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Jurgen Klopp manager / head coach of Liverpool before the EFL Cup Third Round match between Derby County and Liverpool at iPro Stadium on September 20, 2016 in Derby, England. (Photo by James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images) /
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 19: Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates as he scores their first goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on December 19, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 19: Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates as he scores their first goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on December 19, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /

4. Absence of Sadio Mane

Sadio Mane has been an incredible performer for Liverpool this season. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out. But the team’s form this month, with Mane away at the Africa Cup of Nations, is highlighting that fact beyond what anybody expected.

Mane was expected to be missed before he even stepped foot on a plane. But Liverpool’s cruising ship was not expected to turn into the sinking Titanic. So how much of the the team’s downfall is really down to the absence of the Senegalese?

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Mane has scored nine goals so far this season and supplied four assists. The speedster is also a key cog in Liverpool’s offensive high press. But even with that said, Mane is not one of the world’s best players.

This is not Luis Suarez on his way back to Anfield to save the team. And if Liverpool’s stutters are purely down to Mane, then that makes them a one-man team. If this is Liverpool without Mane, and the first half of the season was with him, then the Reds are a one-man team.

That’s not the case, however. Liverpool are more than that. And the reason for the team’s downfall is more than just purely the absence of Sadio Mane. Even as incredible as he has been this season.

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