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Just how good is Sakho?

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Sakho has so far been dominant for France

Some Liverpool fans are yet to be convinced by Mamadou Sakho. When he arrived, he looked a bit like a fish out of water in his first few games, getting caught in possession and giving away the ball in comfortable positions against Swansea and Southampton.

It’s to be expected really. Why wouldn’t he struggle? Any player making the move from Ligue 1 to the Premier League is going to have difficulty adjusting, especially when you consider the incredible pace the game is played at over here. Fortunately, Ligue 1 is also a fairly physical league, which means Sakho was pretty much built for the Premier League. He has a large physical presence, something Liverpool in particular have lacked for a very long time, plus he loves a last minute tackle. I remember being very impressed with some of his last ditch tackles against Swansea in particular.

He built on that throughout the season, and honestly I think he had a very promising debut campaign. That physical presence I mentioned helped out very much against the likes of West Ham away, and though he gained a somewhat ill-earned reputation as clumsy and a bad passer, he pretty much cut out all the mistakes towards the end of the season bar a couple of errors and actually had one of the best passing percentages of any player in the top European leagues.

It seems that Rodgers bought Sakho to replace Agger, seeing as he refuses to ever play them together, and it would seem that one thing the Frenchman has over our great Dane is a steel and physicality that Agger unfortunately will never be able to match. For all of Agger’s numerous qualities, I remember him always struggling against big frontmen.

The France international has yet to convince many at Anfield

The France international has yet to convince many at Anfield

Didier Drogba is one such example, and would bully Agger in frequent appearances against him. That might be an unfair example, seeing as how brilliant Drogba used to be in his prime but something tells me that Sakho wouldn’t have had the same problems.

Having had a full season to bed in and (so far) an impressive World Cup with France, I expect Sakho to kick on next season and become our first choice centre-back (if he isn’t already) along with whoever else we decide to bring in at the back. It wouldn’t surprise me if after two or three years, he becomes a candidate for the captaincy. After all, he was PSG’s captain when he was still in his teens. That takes a tremendous amount of character.

So don’t let the naysayers fool you. Mamadou Sakho will be a quality player, perhaps even world class. Just give him time and he’ll get there. He might make a couple of errors along the way, but he’ll get there. And when he does, we’ll all be glad that we believed in him.

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Drummer, gamer and football fanatic. I love to write about Liverpool and spend most of my time thinking about the mighty Reds. That or Game of Thrones.

9 comments

  • Scytherlex says:

    I agree that sakho will be our best car for years to come. I never understood all the flak he copped. He made errors, but he was also the most comfortable on the ball and reads the game very well from the back. I’m pretty sure he’s also the quickest of the potential starters as well as the most physically dominant.
    Overall, what’s not to like and look forward to?

  • Yassarian says:

    Henderson will be captain and has been captain of just about every team he has played in also at very young ages or did you forget that inc. all the England under…..Sacko needs time next season he should prove himself I hope.

    • Josh Atkins says:

      I actually did forget that Henderson’s captained teams before. Yes, that would be my next bet for captain then.

  • stevie says:

    From what I saw last season he was rubbish!

  • k says:

    shako not rubbish… but LFC have a 3 spot problems… Defensive Mid (20 meter) Area… Defensive 20 meters from Right and Left side.

    How many goal we give when they shoot from out of penalty box ???

    Liverpool Must Thigh marking in 15-25 meter area.. that a key to establish centeral defender.
    dont worry at front.. 1-0.. 4-0.. they must score.

    next seasson : 38 game : must WIN 27 game DRAW 6 and LOOSE not over 5 game

    • stevie says:

      no he’s still rubbish! hope he doesn’t hang around his house when the bin men come around. they might put him in the dustbin lorry with the other rubbish!!

  • Godwin says:

    Pretty rubbish if u ask me!

  • sololiv says:

    sakho may not rubbish but not good compared to Agger. just remember how he play last season specially those 2 (against Chelsea and palace) and why 3 different psg coach prefer the Chelsea flop ahead of him.LFC please sign lovern

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