Not for a single instance did it appear as if out-of-favour defender Mamadou Sakho was playing his first game after around ten months in Crystal Palace’s 1-0 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday. As the sword of relegation is looming large over the Eagles, they have finally registered a huge win to better their chances of staying in the Premier League beyond this season. It might be premature to lay down a verdict, but the initial glimpses do show a lot of promise.
Sakho might have been a fan-favourite at the Anfield, but he wasn’t in the good books of the Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, which was basically due to his unprofessional tantrums. As a disciplinary measure, he was sent back from the United States by the former Borussia Dortmund manager and was also handed a 30-day suspension by UEFA in April for testing positive for a prohibited substance. Things went downhill as he fell below in the pecking order at Liverpool and was eventually shipped to Crystal Palace in the January transfer window,
Sam Allardyce was shrewd in dishing out a well-constructed negotiation with the Kops, for he knew that the French international has the quality he needed for succeeding in his new project of pulling the London-based outfit out of the dropout zone.
The 27-year-old is a bulky defender, who boasts of a strong aerial presence, and isn’t only blessed with high-class skills but also has raw pace and humungous hunger to prove a point every time he gets into the pitch. Moreover, he is a genuine leader who commands the back line like a gladiator and sets him up as an illustrious example to be replicated more often than not.
Moreover, Sakho has plied his trade at two top-notch European sides in the shapes of Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain and thus, he definitely has the required pedigree and experience as well. In the win at the Selhurst Park, Sakho was the cornerstone, re-launching his career in, arguably, the most sensational manner. His interceptions proved crucial and most importantly, he gelled meticulously with James Tomkins at the heart of Allardyce’s defensive line.
Although questions linger with respect to the whereabouts of the former PSG talisman, the answer could be vouched for by how his season at Crystal Palace pans out. Liverpool have a plethora of stars at their disposal and wouldn’t mind selling Sakho to a side which isn’t an immediate threat to them. The future is up for grabs but at the moment, the rock-solid defender needs to build on the momentum he created in his side’s win over the Smoggies.
For what is it worth it is imperative that the Big Sam takes advantage of the problems Sakho have with Liverpool and tie down this Frenchman to a permanent deal in the summer.
