London: Former Tottenham striker Garth Crooks is impressed by the performance of central defender Mamadou Sakho in Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Chelsea in their English Premier League (EPL).
Liverpool rode on a brace from Brazilian playmaker Philip Coutinho and an excellent second half strike by Christian Benteke on Saturday to clinch a well deserved comeback win after conceding an early goal at Stamford Bridge. The match was marked by a superb performance from Sakho in the heart of the Liverpool defence. The France international also produced an excellent pass for Benteke who set up Coutinho’s second goal.
“Can someone please tell me what has got into Mamadou Sakho in these past few games? The Liverpool centre-back is playing like a man possessed. He battles for every ball as though his life depends on it,” Crooks wrote on his weekly BBC blog. “Yet it was the quality of his distribution that startled me. It happened in the first half when he hit a wonderful Steven Gerrardesque 40-yard diagonal pass for Nathaniel Clyne and he did it again in the second half. This time it was destined for Christian Benteke to attack and set up Philippe Coutinho’s second goal,” he added.
Sakho had fallen out of favour under previous manager Brendan Rodgers, but has enjoyed an excellent comeback since Juergen Klopp took over at Anfield. The 25-year-old has started in all three EPL matches which Klopp has presided over so far. Crooks reckons that Sakho could establish himself as a permanent fixture in Liverpool’s starting XI under Klopp. “I said last week that Sakho might be surplus to requirements once Jurgen Klopp gets his chequebook out in the transfer window. But the way Sakho’s playing the new boss might start building his team around the France international,” he wrote. “But the way Sakho’s playing the new boss might start building his team around the France international.”
