Jurgen Klopp hits out at Jamie Carragher after criticism on not resting Sadio Mane

The Senegalese forward has been in the starting lineup in all of Liverpool's Premier League games so far.

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has come under criticism in recent days for allegedly rushing Sadio Mane back to the first team line up after his Africa Cup of Nations exploits in the summer.

The Senegalese forward led his side to the final of the AFCON before losing out on the title to Riyad Mahrez’s Algeria, meaning Mane was playing competitive football up to the 19th of July. 

Klopp has dismissed these claims that came primarily from former Liverpool star, Jamie Carragher, who was worried that the Premier League golden boot holder could suffer from a potential burnout.

In his column for the Telegraph, Carragher wrote, “Mane has become so important that Klopp is reluctant to leave him out and let him have a rest” 

The forward came off the bench in Liverpool's opening day victory against Norwich and has since started every game in the League, all three of which have been won by the Anfield side that sit at the top of the pack as things stand. 

Klopp hit back at Carragher in his press conference saying, “would love to hear Jamie Carragher if I had left Sadio out. The punditry is a world class business - I have to think about if I don’t do that after my (management) career because you can say whatever you want and you always put a finger in something”. 

Mane got himself on the scoresheet in Liverpool's latest victory, away at the Emirates Stadium to Arsenal, before he was brought off in the 77th minute by his German manager who insisted that he is still monitoring his star man’s physical and fitness situation.

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“I think if I am 100 per cent right then Sadio doesn’t have to go away on international duty with his national team after Burnley which will help him, and then after that we have a full week to prepare the next opponent”, said Klopp.

With the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in contention for a starting place, it would not be the worst idea to ease Mane back into action over the next few games, giving him enough time to recuperate after what was a very strenuous 2018-2019 campaign.