Merson claims Mane got it wrong behind Liverpool's roped defense as Nunez 'isn't in the same league'

Paul Merson claims the sale of Sadio Mane was Liverpool's 'worst deal ever' and believes the Reds' poor defensive record is down to the Senegal international's departure.

Mane joined Bayern Munich in the summer for around £30m and Jurgen Klopp's side have struggled since leaving.

They currently sit ninth in the Premier League with two wins from seven games and their defense in particular has come under scrutiny.

Klopp has admitted they need to go back to basics after conceding 14 goals in nine competitive games with just two clean sheets.

Merson feels Mane was key to their defensive unit as he pressed forward throughout his time at Anfield.

He wrote in his Sky Sports column: 'I said it from day one, in my opinion selling Sadio Mane was the worst deal ever. The guy scores big, big goals. Go through them, first goals, equalisers, last-minute winners, big goals.

‘He led from the front with his closing, and for me, what they sold him for, I just didn’t understand. Darwin Nunez is not in the same league at the moment. Not in the same league at all.

“Their problems at the back start at the front. They don't close as a unit - you can go on about the talent of those top three, but they closed through the front. It only took one more pass and they scored.

"Now they don't - so teams go through this press, if there is one then they are in a midfield three which is not the best in the country, and then you run in the back four.

‘How many players have run to Van Dijk this season, compared to the last three or four years?

‘It doesn’t matter how good a player you are when you have people running towards you left, right and center.

"I'm not a stats expert so I'm just going over my head - but for me Mane was a great, great player for Liverpool. To sell him for around £30m, which in the Premier League world is a cup of tea, wouldn't it have been better to keep him and let him go for free?

‘It came back to bite them and could cost them well over £30m by the end of the season. If Arsenal win on Sunday they are out of the equation for Liverpool to catch up with them, and there are only two places for the top four. If they win it, they're one of those teams that can make a little run. Eight points to 14 points is a lot of difference.

"It's 'not to lose' for them. Liverpool aren't catching Man City, so their season is already about finishing in the top four.'

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