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The outcry this week was predictable.

News that Jurgen Klopp was prepared to sanction a loan move for Mamadou Sakho sparked anger and bewilderment among many supporters.

The results of an ECHO poll laid bare the feelings on social media with some 80% voting against the idea of the French centre-back leaving on a temporary basis.

One of the few printable messages from an irate fan read: Why would we possibly let our best defender go?

It's the first time in Klopp's reign that his judgement on an issue has been the subject of so many dissenting voices.

Why? Because where Sakho is concerned there is a gulf between perception and reality.

Sakho is a fans' favourite. He enjoys the adoration of the Kop who chant his name vociferously.

In modern football, players and supporters have become more detached. But with Sakho there's a bond there which few members of Klopp's squad can boast.

The younger generation especially, put him on a pedestal. They love his fist-clenching and his chest-beating comments about being part of the “ Liverpool country”.

He's a working class hero with a social conscience which stems from his tough upbringing in the Paris neighbourhood of Goutte d’Or.

Just weeks after he signed for Liverpool in 2013 he volunteered to be an ambassador for the Liverpool FC Foundation.

Since then he's been a regular visitor to Anfield’s All Saints Catholic Primary School, helping out with everything from football coaching to French lessons, and I've seen first hand how much the kids love having him around.

This summer he spent time checking out the work of his own foundation in Africa which looks to improve the quality of life for impoverished communities.

He's a good man and a good defender but not a great one.

The praise showered on him from some supporters has always been out of sync with the assessment of the Liverpool staff who have worked with him on a daily basis.

Brendan Rodgers was never fully convinced and if Klopp thought he was that pivotal he wouldn't be considering loaning him out.

Sakho's progress at Anfield has certainly been hampered by some poor decisions that he's made along the way.

He stormed off after learning he hadn't even made the bench for the Merseyside derby two years ago.

Issues with his body weight contributed to him being left out again at the start of last season as Rodgers bemoaned his fitness levels.

Under Klopp he showed signs of blossoming last season with his outstanding performance away to Borussia Dortmund in April when he made a series of crucial blocks.

Sakho then scored in the miraculous comeback against Dortmund in the second leg at Anfield before repeating the trick in the 4-0 rout of Everton.

His stock had never been higher. However, his world was turned upside down a few days later when he learned that UEFA was accusing him of a doping offence.

A damaging three-month saga ended with him being cleared in July but only after he had missed the Europa League final and Euro 2016 in his homeland as he served a provisional ban.

WADA's case against him was so full of holes it was rightly thrown out.

But Sakho had tested positive for a substance called Higanamine – a compound found in a fat burner that Liverpool didn't know he was taking.

All players are regularly warned they must not take anything without first consulting club medical staff. It all could have been avoided.

With the threat of a lengthy suspension lifted, many fans expected Sakho to be central to Klopp's plans this season. There was even talk of him being captain material.

That was never likely and certainly not following events at the Reds' California training base which saw Sakho sent home for repeatedly breaking club rules as he riled the manager with his attitude.

Some simply didn't want to believe it. They were adamant that he had flown back simply for treatment on his Achilles injury. The truth hurt.

Klopp put them straight when he revealed Sakho was late for the team flight, late for a team meal and had failed to turn up to a treatment session.

Three strikes and he was out. Klopp, who won't tolerate indiscipline, accused him of showing a lack of respect.

Again, many expected Sakho to apologise and walk straight back into the Liverpool side once he had regained full fitness.

But that isn't going to happen. Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren are now viewed as the Reds' first choice centre-back combination with Ragnar Klavan an able deputy.

Joe Gomez is also on the comeback trail after long-term injury and Lucas Leiva can play at the back if required.

Sakho isn't being shown the door on a permanent basis. If he goes on loan it's to get regular game-time so he can get his career back on track.

But this should be a wake-up call for him. He needs to stop creating problems for himself. Even cult heroes have to knuckle down and buy into the team ethic Klopp is so desperate to foster.