Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp made a mistake selling his best defender - Thompson

JURGEN KLOPP made a huge mistake by letting Mamadou Sakho join Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day.

Allardyce: Mamadou Sakho the answer to Liverpool's defense issues

That is according to Liverpool great Phil Thompson.

Liverpool boss Klopp hinted during the summer that Sakho’s future at Anfield could still be resurrected after being frozen out following his pre-season tour antics in 2016.

But Palace eventually stumped up enough money to meet Liverpool’s valuation of the former Paris Saint-Germain defender in the final hours of the summer window.

Sakho quickly became a cult hero on Merseyside for his ungainly and unorthodox style at the back while also being robust in a challenge and endeared himself to the Kop by embracing the culture of the city.

But he never recovered from a fall-out with Klopp, despite impressing on a short-term loan at Palace in the second half of last season.

Our best defender at the start of this season has been allowed to leave

Phil Thompson on Mamadou Sakho

Liverpool’s defensive woes have been highly criticised in recent weeks with Klopp admitting he is “sick” of conceding the same type of goals time and time again.

And Liverpool legend Thompson believes his former club are lacking the tenacity of someone like Sakho, who he regarded as the best option at centre-back at Anfield.

“Our best defender at the start of this season has been allowed to leave,” Thompson told Sky Sports’ The Debate show.

“Mamadou Sakho was our best defender. He was a warrior, a fighter, a battler - all those things and you saw it at Crystal Palace last season.

Mamadou SakhoGETTY

Mamadou Sakho secured a permanent move away from Liverpool on deadline day

Phil Thompson regarded Mamadou Sakho as the best centre back at LiverpoolGETTY

Phil Thompson regarded Mamadou Sakho as the best centre back at Liverpool

“He was like that at Liverpool. I know there’s fallouts in football all the time but somewhere along the line you can’t cut off your nose to spite your face.

“He should have made up with the boy, ban him for three or four months and then bring him back in.

“And now you lose out to Van Dijk for whatever reason that happened so surely you would be keeping Sakho.

“Lovren is a good player, Matip’s a good player, Klavan too, but they’re not battlers.”

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