While it’s never a competition, Sadio Mane looks to be a man with a point to prove for Liverpool.
Liverpool pride themselves on having the most fiery attack in the Premier League. A front three consisting of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino is worthy of all the plaudits, as it includes perfect balance.
Both Salah and Mane had impressive debut seasons, Salah’s coming a season later than Mane. They have a good understanding of each other, and despite some worries, there doesn’t seem to be any unhealthy competition.
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Managers love to see healthy competition, and that may be what Mane has in mind. Of course, he would want to reclaim to love from the Liverpool faithful, as his season was somewhat underrated last time out. Still, he contributed to 28 goals last term – 20 goals and eight assists. All of this came in 40 appearances.
It’s a good showing, but naturally, he didn’t get the recognition he deserved for his efforts. While Liverpool fans didn’t brush him aside, they certainly put the spotlight on Mohamed Salah – and rightly so.
As we have time to recuperate due to the international break, Mane will be happy with his four goals in the Premier League so far. No player in the league has more, being tied with Aleksandar Mitrovic at the top of the charts.
While it’s still early to make bold predictions, I do believe Mane has it in him to claim the Golden Boot this season. He will face immense competition though, with the likes of Kane, Aguero, Aubameyang and even his own Salah licking their lips.
Mane, despite many of his critics, is a very smart player. Many wingers rely on speed and speed alone, but Mane’s footballing IQ is what makes him one of the best in the business.
You can often rely on his decision making, as he chooses to either cut inside or lay it on a plate for Firmino and Salah. This is what makes the Liverpool front-line tick. None of them are selfish players, and it’s why the goals and assists are distributed perfectly throughout the trio.
Do you think Sadio Mane can reach the same levels which Mohamed Salah hit last season?