‘For some reason’: Wright-Phillips thinks Klopp’s going to throw ‘sensational’ Liverpool player into his starting line-up vs City

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It’s Liverpool against Manchester City this weekend and former City and England winger, Shaun Wright-Phillips, believes the Reds could go into the game without Sadio Mane.

Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp, now has a plethora of attacking options to choose from after adding Diogo Jota a few windows back and now Luis Diaz this year. Diaz, in particular, has made an explosive start to life at Anfield and is already being billed as one of the signings of the season.

And according to Wright-Phillips, Diaz’s form will see Klopp go into the game leaving Mane on the bench.

“I think Salah starts, I think Jota will go through the middle, but I think for some reason Diaz is going to start this game.
I don’t think Mane or Salah have actually played that well in the last five or six games, and if he drops one it tends to be Mane,” Wright-Phillips said on The Kelly and Wrighty Show.

Of course, Mane – who signed for £34m back in 2016 – has already had the odd strop this season when he’s been taken off instead of Salah in games. This is a big decision for Klopp, then, who knows he will be disappointing one or two big players.

Diaz, meanwhile, has impressed onlookers. Gary Neville labelled him ‘sensational’ earlier this season, and its hardly surprising.

TBR’s View: Diaz Has Strong Case To Play But Mane Has The Experience

This is like picking between two of your favourite chocolate bars or drink. Both Mane and Diaz are outstanding talents and both are more than capable of tearing City to shreds. The issue for Klopp comes in terms of balance.

Salah will play. He’s simply not going to be left out. Klopp will also need a focal point, so Jota is the man for that role.

So it’s down to Mane and Diaz. A few months back, Micah Richards said the ‘outstanding’ Mane didn’t always get the credit he deserves. Should he play this weekend, then this is a golden chance for him to prove everyone wrong.