Does Sakho Deserve Another Chance At Liverpool?
Of the many things that Liverpool fans are not able to unite about the future of one Mamadou Sakho seems to be dividing the club into two exact halves. One set of fans think that Sakho should be brought back while some think that Jurgen Klopp’s decision should be respected and that Sakho has no place in the squad. The German tactician will definitely have the final say in this regard but should he consider the French defender for next season?
The 27-year old was the first-choice CB for Liverpool last season but an alleged drug charge from WADA cut short his Liverpool campaign and also affected his chances for the EURO16 in France. Sakho’s life has taken a turn since that drug charge. Though he was relieved off all such charges later in the year, his antics in the pre-season tour with Liverpool saw Klopp freeze him out of the first team. Sakho has not played a game for the senior side at Anfield and was sent to Crystal Palace on a loan in January, until the end of the season, after a stint in the U23 side for the Reds.
It has been an ironic turn of events ever since, as Liverpool failed to improve as a defensive unit, at a similar time when Mamadou Sakho made Crystal Palace almost impossible to score against. In the games he has played at Selhurst Park, Sakho has lost just one game, to Southampton, and has kept 4 clean sheets, helping his side to victories over Arsenal and Chelsea in this time. He has been solid at the back for Sam Allardyce’s side that was struggling to win a point before he took over and the French defender has had a huge say in it. But does his form mean Klopp should bring him back to Anfield?
Joel Matip is expected to be the first-choice CB for Liverpool next season and though Dejan Lovren has been decent, Klopp is in the market for a new defender and has been looking at the likes of Michael Keane, Virgil Van Dijk and Jose Gimenez for a move in the summer. Lucas Leiva, who has acted at times as the center back this season could be sold, pushing Ragnar Klavan further up the pecking order. Lovren is expected to be the backup for Matip and the new purchase and Sakho has little place in this setup.
His form might deserve a place in the first team at Anfield, but it is doubtful if Klopp will partner him with Matip, just months after freezing him out of the first team for disciplinary reasons. Klopp will definitely want a player of Sakho’s calibre in his squad, especially in a time when such quality is of premium value in the transfer market but he needs to command his authority on the squad and so, however good Sakho’s form is, Klopp should stick with his decision and bring in a more reliable player to solve Liverpool’s problems at the back next season. The Reds are reportedly valuing the 27-year old at £30m, but it is hard to see most clubs pay such money for the defender this summer.
Do you think Liverpool should give Mamadou Sakho another chance, or lower the player’s price and get rid of him this summer?