Liverpool lead the Premier League by 16 points with a game in hand and are currently cruising towards their first league title in 30 years. Throughout the season they have overcome every obstacle thrown in their path, such as the injury to Alisson at the start of the campaign, along with missing Fabinho for the hectic festive schedule, and emerged victorious every time. Even after the Brazilin had established himself as a critical member of the squad, the Reds marched on and remain unbeaten in the top-flight so far this campaign.
Sadio Mane limped off in the 2-1 victory at Wolves last week and Jurgen Klopp has confirmed he will be out for at least two games after sustaining a small muscle tear in his thigh. The Senegalese international has once again been an outstanding contributor to Liverpool’s cause this season, scoring 11 Premier League goals and assisting six in 22 appearances. Additional absentees come in the form of James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri, but Klopp’s squad is built to withstand the losses.
The Reds have steadily built a squad that can lose its main contributors. Even with Alisson missing (one of last season’s most influential performers whose saves prevented five goals from being scored), Klopp’s side didn’t drop a point. It does not matter who has been missing, results domestically have not stalled, and that will not change against West Ham with either Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Georginio Wijnaldum capable of filling the void left in Mane’s absence.
Due to an incredibly strategic recruitment policy, Klopp has acquired an amazingly versatile group of players who can deal with absentees. However, title rivals Manchester City’s frailties have been exposed after losing defensive general Aymeric Laporte; with goalkeeper Ederson postulating that his loss was costing Manchester City the title.
Even without their lead at the top of the table, Klopp has built such a winning culture around Anfield that they might be able to cope with the loss of Mane. But with the buffer they have at the top and the injury not as bad as expected, Liverpool are still in the driving seat for the title. As for West Ham, they will experience how well the Reds deal with setbacks for the first time this season.
