Liverpool tipped to axe Sadio Mane v Benfica after ‘surprising’ development – pundit
Sadio Mane will be replaced by Luis Diaz in the Liverpool starting XI against Benfica on Wednesday night.
That is the view of former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the selection dilemma facing Jurgen Klopp ahead of the Champions League quarter final second leg.
Diaz dropped to the bench for Liverpool’s top-of-the-table clash against Man City on Sunday despite producing a man of the match performance against Benfica in midweek.
Mane, Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah were given the nod to start at the Etihad with all three having a hand in Liverpool’s goals.
Phillips suggested Klopp will make changes to the side which drew 2-2 against City given the “intensity” of the game.
“I was surprised Diaz didn’t start against City,” he told Football Insider’s Dylan Childs.
“I’d expect him to come back in against Benfica. They are well set up in that game so I think Mane will come out and be rested.
“Diaz will go straight back in I think. He has had his rest and will be fresh as anything.
“It is a huge game even though Liverpool are two goals up.
“It would be a big ask to have Mane, Salah and Jota go again after the intensity of Sunday’s game. It will have taken a lot out of them. It was a high tempo game. I’d expect Diaz to start for that reason.”
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