Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp has drooled over Sadio Mane’s performance in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final v Roma, claiming the forward was ‘more effective’ than star man Mohamed Salah.
The Senegal international scored the opening goal of the match, calmly slotting home left-footed after being played down the left channel by Roberto Firmino.
The Reds went on to lose 4-2 on the night but progressed to the final against Real Madrid with a 7-6 aggregate victory over the Giallorossi, and Redknapp has now sung Mane’s praises for his display in the second leg.
In a column for the Daily Mail, he said: “When Zinedine Zidane does his team-talk in Kiev, it will not just be Mohamed Salah who the Real Madrid manager will identify as Liverpool’s danger man.
“Sadio Mane was sensational in Rome, always deadly on the ball with his lightning pace. His brilliant first goal put Roma on the back foot and left them staring at a four-goal deficit.
“Having been Liverpool’s star player alongside Philippe Coutinho last season, Mane has not always got the plaudits this year with Salah scoring so many goals. On Wednesday night he was more effective than the Egyptian. Mane is hitting top gear at the perfect time for Klopp.”
OPINION
Mane does seem to be coming into form at the right time for Liverpool, who are through to their first Champions League showpiece since 2007. They lost that day against AC Milan, but will fancy their chances against a Real Madrid side who are looking a shadow of the team that romped through the competition last season. However, Los Blancos hold far more recent European experience than this Liverpool side, having won the trophy for the last two seasons and reached four finals in five years, and this will still be a massive challenge for this Reds team. Mane will indeed be a key man for Jurgen Klopp’s men, who boast this season’s best attack in Europe, and the final is set to be a cracker in Kiev. Liverpool now turn their attention back to the Premier League, with the Reds set for a massively important clash against Chelsea on Sunday. A loss there would make things interesting in the race for the top four, with Chelsea just six points behind with a game in hand.