Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane – Who Should Liverpool Deploy On The Right Wing?
Jurgen Klopp has been a busy man after the end of the previous season and is already closing in on his second addition to his squad this summer. After Dominic Solanke from Chelsea, Liverpool have landed Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah for next season and are looking to make further improvements to the squad before the start of the next campaign.
The Reds had a lack of width in the final third which came back to haunt them time and again and in Salah, they have found one of the perfect wingers to suit their system, making them a more exciting attacking unit than what they were last season.
Senegalese star Sadio Mane joined the club just last summer. His pace and finishing abilities saw him stand as the top goal scorer for the club last season. He seemed settled on the right side of the wing with Philippe Coutinho playing on the left side for most of the season.
However, with Salah in their ranks, Liverpool are expected to shift to a 4-2-3-1 system with their Brazilian playmaker playing in a number 10 role, with Salah and Mane on either wing. But who should play on where? Should Mane shift to the left flank, like in his Salzburg days to allow Salah to play in his natural position on the right?
Salah is a natural winger who loves to take on his man and find space behind the back line. Playing on the left flank will allow him to put crosses in but at Anfield, he will hardly ever have to do that. So he can create chances from the flank or cutting in when needed, allowing to play on his stronger foot.
The same will apply for Mane on the left wing, as he can cut in if needed or take on a player to find space near the byline. Crosses will be reduced as both have to use their weaker foot but with Liverpool, it will hardly affect their gameplay.
Mane, was effective in this role in his days with RB Salzburg before his move to Southampton and having already settled in at Anfield, he should be more comfortable playing on the left flank. Though Salah has done a decent job on the other wing, he should play in his natural position, to get the best out of his game.
However, Klopp has a front line that changes their positions constantly and with such pace on either wing, Liverpool could use a floating formation that can create havoc in the final third, making Salah a much more exciting signing.