Klopp accepted Liverpool lack this player to improve

Before that great tension-relieving result that Liverpool achieved against Ajax in the second Champions League matchday, the team led by Jurgen Klopp had already been severely criticised not only for the poor performance of his team, but also for the poor management of the summer transfer window where the attacking star, Sadio Mané, left for the Bundesliga to become the new killer of Bayern Munich.

Even though the Reds have three wins in eight games played between Premier League and Champions League, the feeling of improvement is palpable, especially in attack, as what has been done so far by Darwin Núñez, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, is not even comparable to the numbers registered a few months ago, with the Senegalese player missing from the equation, who is showing why Bayern brought him in to replace Robert Lewandowski.

More Liverpool news:

Jürgen Klopp wants this Real Madrid player

Real Madrid starlet let go by Liverpool in transfer window

According to Norwegian broadcaster TV2, the German coach agreed to miss Mané after his departure, recognising him for his skills as a player of international stature. But even with his absence, Klopp said the team is not concentrating on the problem that is no longer solvable, with the tactician now tasked with finding the balance that will allow his players in the back four to shine.

With the spectacular return of some injured players, Thiago Alcantara starring from midfield and leading both in attack and defence and Mohamed Salah finding the net again, Liverpool seem to be starting to take shape and at times resemble their 2021-2022 version, with plenty of work still to be done in the fortnight they will not see any action, with Brighton their first benchmark in their attempt to improve.

The loss of Mané

Mane left Liverpool for Bayern Munich in a £35m transfer during the summer transfer window, contributing a total of 120 goals and 48 assists in 269 appearances over six seasons in red during his time at Anfield. The 30-year-old Senegalese player was a key player for Jurgen Klopp's team, helping them to win the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup, not to mention the fact that his quality made more than one of his teammates shine, who are now looking to overcome the football crisis that has troubled them.