Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes Pep Guardiola will regret calling Sadio Mane a diver, as it will spur the Senegalese star on when he faces Manchester City on Sunday.
Speaking after his side beat Southampton 2-1 at the weekend, and after Liverpool came from behind to see off Aston Villa by the same scoreline, Guardiola claimed Mane sometimes dives late in games in order to win penalties.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Murphy thinks the City boss made an error that he could live to regret this weekend:
I don’t think Pep went into [his interview] with that in his head, I think he was just triggered by a question about the result at Villa Park and it’s just come out.
In hindsight, he might look back on that and think, ‘I wish I hadn’t said that’.
If I was him, the last thing I’d want to do is wind up the best player in the Premier League at the moment and before you play him next week.
Mane is playing incredibly well and if it does spur him on a little bit more, than why take the risk?
Murphy went on to talk about how Mane is in unbelievable form and is the main reason why the Reds are six points clear at the top of the Premier League:
I think we should emphasise that Mane’s form from the start of the season until now is the reason why Liverpool are six points clear.
In certain games, he’s carried them through. He’s been phenomenal.
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Whether it was just a slip of the tongue or an attempt at mind games, Guardiola’s comments have caused a bit of a stir and Mane will be well aware of what has been said.
If Murphy is right and Guardiola’s words give Mane even a little 1 percent more edge, he could seriously hurt City at the weekend, in what is one of the biggest games of the season.
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