Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp recently stated that he wasn’t sure about the extent of Sadio Mane’s injury but he did think that the Senegalese star’s season is all but over.
The former Southampton player was injured in the derby win over Everton and while he has been Liverpool’s top scorer this season with 13 goals, this does open doors for other players to step up.
That is exactly what former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes and has stated that this is Daniel Sturridge’s last chance of impressing Klopp and also to ensure he stays at Anfield next season and beyond.
The German tweeted that the loss of Mane would be huge but expected others to step up.
Huge blow if Mane was to be out for the season. Surely last chance saloon for Sturridge. Time to step up for some of the others
— Didi Hamann (@DietmarHamann) April 5, 2017
Sturridge has only played 14 Premier League games this season before his side faced Bournemouth at Anfield earlier tonight. The former Manchester City and Chelsea striker has only added two Premier League goals to his tally and his lack of fitness has been a concern not only for Klopp but his predecessor Brendan Rodgers as well.
Apart from missing a huge chunk of this season as well, the English striker has not been able to fit into the scheme of things under the current manager. Klopp prefers a high pressing style of football and that is something which hasn’t worked out too well for the 27-year-old striker.
Sturridge has been linked with a number of other clubs from England and abroad and it did seem that he would not be part of the Liverpool first team till the end of the season.
The injury to Mane certainly has opened a huge chance for him to take advantage of and if he can get Liverpool into the Champions League by scoring a few goals, he still could be playing in Red next season.
