The former Reds frontman sees no reason for Jurgen Klopp to shuffle his pack and expects a German coach to stay even if title success is savoured
Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane should not be given a rest by Liverpool, says Emile Heskey, with Jurgen Klopp urged to continue picking the strongest possible starting XI.
That is an approach the Reds have favoured to this point and it is a philosophy which has served them well, with Klopp’s side back at the top of the Premier League table and chasing down an elusive title.
Keeping star men such as Salah and Mane fit will be key in their claims to the crown, but Heskey feels it would be wrong to shuffle the pack in an effort to protect those who are needed on the field.
The former Reds striker told bwin: “Salah and Mane won’t want a rest and Liverpool shouldn’t give them one.
“They’ve played a lot of football over the past few seasons, but as a player, you want to be playing as much as possible. When you look at the pair of them, they just love being out on the pitch and playing football – they’re a manager’s dream.
“In the modern game, players are complete athletes. Although they’ve played a lot of games it won’t be the physical side that catches up with them, it will be the mental side.
“It can sometimes be draining playing so many games without a break, so they may want to take a break for those reasons. However, they’ll both physically be as fit and ready to go as any other player.”
Roberto Firmino is the third member of a fearsome attacking unit at Anfield and Heskey believes the Brazil international is as important, if not more so, to the Liverpool cause.
He added: “Mane and Salah are as important as each other, but Firmino is the link that makes them stronger.
“They both have an incredible amount of talent, but Firmino really connects the two together and is pivotal to the trio working as well as they do.
“It’s impossible to say who Liverpool would miss more out of the two (Salah and Mane). If one isn’t doing so well, then the other steps up and vice versa.
“It’s a massive help as a player to know that, if you’re having an off day, you have a team-mate that can take the pressure off you slightly, without the performance being analysed too much. You can just move on to the next game.”
While the likes of Salah and Mane have become priceless assets to Liverpool, German tactician Klopp is another vital cog in the wheel.
He helped to deliver Champions League glory last season and is tied to a contract through to 2022.
Heskey expects a highly-rated coach to honour that agreement, even if a long-awaited title is secured in 2020.
Quizzed on whether Klopp could walk, Heskey said: “Winning the Premier League will just be a bi-product of what Klopp has implemented at Liverpool.
“Klopp’s style of management can be broken in to three sections; the first was getting Liverpool to play his style of football, the second was consistency and the third is winning trophies.
“He’s already got the first two sections in place, so from there on out he’ll be aiming for trophies to complete the programme that he’s put in place.”
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