Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes that the return of Sadio Mane for Liverpool as they meet Chelsea this evening could give the blues rock-solid defence new problems to deal with.
Mane looks set to be involved tonight after returning from international duty for his country at the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon. Various stats have shown how important the 24-year-old is to this Reds side.
Mane will be returning to a team struggling badly for form, after missing Liverpool’s last seven games. However, former Arsenal man Keown believes his presence in attack has the capacity to make things very difficult for the league leaders.
He believes that the Reds needed something to lift the mood, so it is great for them that Sadio Mane who just returned from the African Cup of Nations is back again.
“Their trio of Mane, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino looked the most complete front line before Christmas. Put them together and they have all the qualities of the perfect player.
‘‘And if you leave too much space in behind, Mane will punish you with his pace. As a defender there are so many different things you have to deal with.’ he wrote in the Daily Mail.
