It has been levelled at Liverpool many times already that their poor start to the season is due to the absence of Sadio Mane.
It’s an understandable reaction after Liverpool lost one of their very best players this summer. But it simply isn’t true.
If anyone needed any proof as to why that is, Luis Diaz provided it on Wednesday night. Liverpool may have been heavily beaten by Napoli, but the Colombian turned in a performance that Mane would have been proud of.
From his relentless running to his endless desire to take something, anything, from the game, Diaz was the shining light of a dismal team display.
Liverpool’s problems don’t lie with Diaz
Although Mane finished his Liverpool career playing as a centre-forward, that isn’t what he’ll be remembered for. Instead, the Senegal legend tormented opposition defences from the left-wing for years.
Without missing a beat, Diaz picked up that baton whilst Mane was still at the club. As youngster Conor Bradley has said via Liverpool Echo, the 25-year-old has been ‘electric.’
Since Mane’s exit, he has continued that as well. Four goals so far this season is a healthy return after eight games.
But it isn’t necessarily his goals that show just how well he has stepped into Mane’s shoes. Against Napoli, we saw the absolute fighter in him.
As Liverpool’s rough start to the season hit its nadir, the man who has replaced Mane somehow shone. Scrapping for every ball and pressing from the front even at 4-1 down, it would be interesting to hear how Mane could have done more.
The simple answer is that he couldn’t. Those highlighting the 30-year-old’s absence in the squad as a reason for decline are completely missing the point.
Diaz has arguably been Liverpool’s best player this season. The players around him would have toiled regardless of whether Mane was around or not.
It’s time for this narrative to stop. Yes, Liverpool miss Mane in a literal sense. He became a legendary player for the club and achieved some brilliant things. But on the pitch, Diaz promises much of the same. The blame for Liverpool’s malaise lies elsewhere.
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