Klopp names Liverpool forward who could play deep midfield

Matt Stead

Sadio Mane “can probably play a slightly deeper position” at Liverpool, according to manager Jurgen Klopp.

Mane has established himself as one of Liverpool’s most important attacking players since joining from Southampton for around £34m in summer 2016.

The Senegalese scored 13 goals in his first season, followed by a haul of 20 goals in 2017/18.

He has already struck seven times in 14 games this campaign, and Klopp feels he is so good that he could even excel in a deeper position.

“He is an outstanding player, I never had any other opinion,” Klopp told Premier League Productions.

“Since he came in he helped the team so much, he improved so much. He is an outstanding offensive player.

“If you ask me if he is a striker, yes, from time to time; is he a midfielder, yes, from time to time; he can probably play a slightly deeper position as well – we don’t have to play him there because we have other players there but he could play it as well.

“He is physically strong, technically strong, he is unbelievably quick, he is quick in mind as well, and he is a good shooter with both feet. That makes a good player and he is a fantastic person.

“He needed more confidence when he came in, the start was really good but I think he was a bit surprised by himself. Everything was good until the first time his shape dropped a little bit and then he struggled a bit with that, because he needed to get used to that he is a world-class player.

“Now, he knows that much better. That helps us. He is a really good player.”