Former Republic of Ireland international Ray Houghton has expressed concerns about Liverpool double act Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
The two Reds attackers are currently starring at this summer’s African Cup of Nations, and Houghton is worried that both men could suffer burn-out mid-season.
“My big worry for the likes of Mane and for Salah would be when it comes to October, November time,” he told talkSPORT [22/06; 13:45]. “They’re not going to have much of a break between the end of the African Cup of Nations and the start of the season.
“They’re going to need some time to recharge their batteries. They used to say you needed a minimum of three weeks between your last game; get all your body aches out of your body, any little knocks that you’ve got – that’s the recuperation period needed, really, to get you back.”
OPINION
Houghton makes a good point, here. There’s barely going to be any time between the African Cup of Nations finishing and Liverpool’s pre season starting. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp would be well advised to put both men – and Guinea international Naby Keita – on the shelf for the first week or so of pre season. Perhaps they should travel with the team, but none of them should feature in the first few pre season games. But, as Houghton says, you are worried that the three of them – particularly Salah and Mane – could suffer a mid-season dip in form next time out due to the sheer amount of football they’ve played for club and country over the course of this campaign. Klopp needs to manage this situation carefully, that’s for sure, otherwise Liverpool could suffer next term. Houghton has sounded the alarm bells, now the Reds need to listen. This is a tricky situation and Klopp must use all of his managerial nous to navigate it successfully.
