Klopp hints at the tactical reason he’s ditched Mamadou Sakho

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Everyone knows now that Mamadou Sakho’s persistent disciplinary infringements cost him a spot in Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

But let’s be honest, if Lionel Messi was at Liverpool and had committed the same sins, he’d wouldn’t be on loan at Crystal Palace.

Luis Suarez behaved far worse at Liverpool than Sakho ever has, yet played every single game when he wasn’t suspended.

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So for us, Klopp mustn’t think Sakho is a long-term option for him at the back for reasons other than discipline, which of course confuses many fans…

The Frenchman’s been brilliant for Crystal Palace, Sunday’s opponents, since joining on loan – which has led Liverpool supporters to question why we’d offload such a player in the first place, especially when our own backline is so often injured or out of form.

But Klopp has suggested that Sakho is shining due to Palace playing a deep defensive line, intimating that he’d find it harder in Liverpool’s higher one…

“Mama is a very good defender, especially when you defend deep, which is what Palace are doing,” Klopp told a packed press-conference at Melwood today…

“Strong boy, good tackles, blocks. Having him not involved isn’t the best news for Palace.

“He is a good football player in the build-up, he’s a cool guy.”

Now while Sakho is shining in south London, he definitely had some wobbly moments when first-choice at Liverpool. His awkward style and occasionally rash decision-making is less troublesome for his team-mates when the back-four is camped on the 18-yard line. Everything is in front of him and he’s allowed to boot it clear when in any kind of danger.

Plus, there’s extra support from defensive minded midfielders, something Liverpool (rightly or wrongly) haven’t used much this term.

In short, it’s much harder being a good defender under Klopp, and our manager knows this. For this reason, he wants defenders who can play in his high line and show composure rather than last-gasp defensive attributes: hence why he signed Joel Matip and wants Virgil Van Dijk.

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