The Top Flight
Fansided

Sadio Mané has found the magic touch for Liverpool

By John Wozniak

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates scoring his sides fourth goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Burnley FC at Anfield on March 10, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates scoring his sides fourth goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Burnley FC at Anfield on March 10, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Ohh, Mane, Mane!!! Sadio Mané is in great form for Liverpool. The Senegal international has emerged as the fifth favourite to become the Premier League top scorer.

Few would have predicted that Sadio Mané would be Liverpool’s joint top scorer going into the international break. Mané has been on fire of late, scoring crucial goals for a team in the hunt for a League and Champions League double. The football season is at the business end, and the Reds are in the thick of a league title race. Form is key at this time of the season, and Mané’s incredible run of 11 goals in 11 games is timely.

Liverpool moved back to the top of the table after Sunday’s nervy 2-1 at Fulham.  Mané was on hand once more to open the scoring. Sadio’s goals was fantatic, picking up a great pass inside the box from Firmino to beat Sergio Rico with a first-time shot.  The run and the finish highlights Mané’s confidence and ability to step up and be counted when it matters.

Pundits ran out of superlatives for Mané’s midweek Champions League goal against Bayern Munich, here’s what his teammate James Milner had to say about.

"The first goal was ridiculous really, how he finished it off, the calmness and the finish. Hopefully that continues for the rest of the season (via skysports.com)"

Record Setter

Several Senegalese players have made their mark in England’s Top Flight, including Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse, Henri Camara and Mame Biram Diouf. Mané set a new record for Senegalese players in Sunday’s win at Fulham.

Mané has set a new record for goals in a single Premier League season by a Senegalese player, with his 17th of the campaign on Sunday beating Demba Ba’s previous benchmark of 16 in 2011-12 (via liverpoolfc.com).

The Race For The Golden Boot

Sergio Agüero is the current top scorer in the Premier League with 18 goals. Four players, including Mané, are on 17 goals; the other three strikers are, Mohamed Salah, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Harry Kane.

Top Scorer Odds

  • Agüero – 6/4
  • Kane -7/2
  • Salah – 10/3
  • Aubameyang – 13/2
  • Mané – 10/1

The approximate £37m Liverpool paid Southampton for Mané looks like a bargain. Transfermarkt value the Senegalese forward at £76.5m. The Liverpool No.10’s value could rise further, especially Jürgen Klopp’s men can bring either the Premier League or Champions League title to Anfield in May.

Liverpool must maintain the pressure on Manchester City in the title race. Agüero is the inform man for City, Mané for Liverpool. Klopp’s side will be firing on all fronts, especially when Salah rediscovers his goalscoring boots.

*Odds correct at the time of writing via oddschecker.com

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