Liverpool Defender Mamadou Sakho returned to preseason training this past summer in recovery mode. Convalescing from an achilles injury, Sakho was sent out on season long loan to Crystal Palace.
Today the Eagles came into Anfield and won there for the third consecutive time. The Palace hero was none other than Christian Benteke who scored both goals in the 2-1 victory. After the game winning goal, Mamadou Sakho (still a Liverpool employee by the way) celebrated his Benteke. For many, this act is going to go over like a lead balloon.
Have a look see:
https://twitter.com/FP__Media/status/856181483400085504
For many others, this won’t be an action that offends or irritates. Many football fans know all too well the way Sakho was treated by Manager Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, and they will find the humor in it. Also, Sakho is no stranger to doing zany, and perhaps controversial, things on the football pitch.
Last April, Sakho made headlines (along with teammate Divock Origi) for finding a Liverpool fan’s phone which had been lost on the pitch, in the excitement of a thrilling win. Sakho and Origi made phenomenal light-hearted news with this act.
Of course, Sakho didn’t do himself any favors with the club in the manner with which he behaved. He broke a few team rules last summer. Sakho nearly missed Liverpool’s team flight to the United States for their preseason exhibition tour. He also missed a training session and was late for a team meal. Klopp then sent Sakho home from the United States.
It’s understandable to see why Mamadou Sakho would celebrate a win over Liverpool, even though he is technically still with them. For Benteke it was just pure revenge. The forward who flopped under Klopp and was often humiliated for doing so, now has more goals at Anfield as a member of the opposition (five in four Premier League appearances) than he did when he was with Liverpool.
He only scored four goals in 13 appearances while wearing a red shirt on Anfield Road.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times and NBC Chicago.com, contributes to Chicago Tribune.com, Bold, WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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