Before being convicted of failing a drug test, Madou Sakho was thriving at Liverpool.
Although the Frenchman’s relationship with Jurgen Klopp never recovered, it was later determined that he had not broken any doping laws.
The defender has expressed his opinions about the consequences.
Brendan Rodgers viewed Liverpool’s £18 million acquisition of Mamadou Sakho, a Frenchman who set a club record at the time for a central defender, as a serious indication of purpose. As PSG’s captain and a 14-time France international, there was a lot of hope that the defender would play a significant role in the team’s success for many years to come and help Anfield win its first Premier League championship.
However, Sakho’s Liverpool career ended abruptly after a period of ups and downs, which included a drugs ban in 2016. He was eventually sent to the under-23 team. The defender, who is currently playing for Torpedo Kutaisi in Georgia, has opened up about leaving Anfield. He also has an intriguing side gig outside of football.
Sakho’s departure from Liverpool
He was expelled from the first team by Klopp.
Sakho had a promising future at the start of Jurgen Klopp’s time at Liverpool. Sakho even scored a pivotal goal during a historic comeback victory over Borussia Dortmund. The Reds had advanced to the Europa League final thanks to a number of outstanding performances, especially in Europe. However, Sakho was banned for doping in April 2016, weeks before the Europa League final, after a drug test found evidence of a chemical that burns fat. The Frenchman was also suspended for the first 30 days.
In July 2016, Sakho was cleared of his infraction and given an apology by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which said, “WADA accepts that Mr. Sakho did not breach the UEFA Anti-Doping Regulations, did not cheat, had no intention of gaining any advantage, and acted in good faith.” Sakho had attempted to fight the ban and turn his career around.
Liverpool’s preseason tour of the USA seemed like a great chance for Sakho to get back to playing football and solidify his place in Klopp’s plans after the summer’s trauma, but it never materialised. The Frenchman was sent back to England after receiving treatment for an Achilles injury because of a disciplinary incident that reportedly involved him missing a rehabilitation session, being late to a team meal, and almost missing the departing flight.
Sakho was demoted to the under-23 squad and never played for the club again after it seemed that Klopp’s patience had run out. The player was considered unfit. Sakho, however, vented his annoyance on his Snapchat story, claiming that his exile was due to a falsehood:
“Like a Scouse soldier, I’m still putting in a lot of effort! I haven’t spoken yet [because] I want to chat on the pitch. I’ll be speaking soon on behalf of those who don’t comprehend the issue and who support me. I can’t accept the deception, but I accept my circumstances. The truth should be revealed to the fans! I appreciate your help.
After leaving Liverpool in January 2017 on loan to Crystal Palace, the former PSG player—who was not the only one to have a falling out with Klopp at Anfield—made the move permanent the following summer for a club-record £25 million.
Sakho’s Comments on Doping Ban
The former French international also spoke out on his relationship with Klopp
In a 2025 interview with the Liverpool Echo, Sakho looked back on his ban and talked about how he saw his relationship with Klopp after their fallout had subsided.
“I was really confident that everything was going well before the doping story came out and changed the road of my career,” said the Frenchman. However, I do accept it. I think that God exists. I accept everything that has happened to me in my life and narrative, and I simply look forward.
“When you’re accused of something improper and you spend years defending yourself against accusations of cheating or wrongdoing. You clean your name at the end.
Making my family proud and clearing my dad’s name was something I truly, truly enjoyed. therefore, yes, I was correct, therefore winning was wonderful in the end.
Naturally, though, it was something that altered the path of my career. However, I do accept it. What are you able to do? Nothing. Simply be optimistic and look forward to the future.
“Good relationship because I’m not a negative man,” the Torpedo Kutaisi man said of Klopp. “I always show respect. His style of football appeals to me. However, football is football. You just have to make some decisions for a little while. It’s football.
Sakho’s Liverpool Career
The Frenchman divided opinion throughout his Anfield spell.
Throughout his four years at Anfield, opinions on Sakho were continuously split; some thought he was ready to lead the defence for years, while others saw him as an impending disaster.
Because it was such a large fee at the time, his arrival to the club was seen as a true statement, and it was anticipated that he would become a club legend and help the team advance. Following Sakho’s arrival, Rodgers stated:
Despite only being 23 years old, Sakho is a seasoned player with senior international caps who looks like a monster during practice. We want someone who is ready for the present, and he is. We had the opportunity to safeguard the club for perhaps the ensuing ten years, and we took that action.
Sakho had an almost outstanding first season at the club. Liverpool came very close to winning the league title, but they ended up two points behind Man City, largely because of their flimsy defence, which allowed 50 goals in the season. Despite his 92% passing accuracy, Sakho was characterised by critics as a liability who always appeared unsteady with the ball at his feet.
Sakho had a disappointing 2014–15 season, making just 16 appearances. Liverpool’s £20 million acquisition of Croatian defender Dejan Lovren showed their lack of faith in the Frenchman. Brendan Rodgers barely missed being fired as Liverpool concluded the season in sixth place. However, the club ultimately fired him in 2015, and Klopp took his job. As previously stated, Sakho had a great start to his time with Klopp, but things quickly went south, and his time at Liverpool ended in a very disappointing manner.
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