OPINION
Liverpool finished their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Wolves at Anfield but it was not enough as Manchester City beat them to the title by a single point on the final day.
After all the action had finished, it was time for all the pundits and fans to pick their teams of the season, including all the standout performer’s from another exhilarating campaign.
One of the outstanding players of the season was Liverpool’s Sadio Mane. The Senegalese forward struck twice on Sunday against Wolves to join fellow team mate Mohamed Salah and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the Golden Boot winner for this season.
Garth Crook’s chose Mane in his BBC Sport Team of the Season ahead of Salah and said: “The Senegal striker has held the fort during his team-mates’ difficulties and kept them in contention.”
“Van Dijk may be the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year but for me Mane is Liverpool’s player of the season.”
Crook’s was bang on with his assessment of the 27-year-old forward who has had a phenomenal year for his side. The Senegal captain scored 22 goals in the process of jointly winning the Golden Boot award and has been a catalyst for his team’s success under Jurgen Klopp.
Mane has had added pressure on his shoulders during previous months, with both Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino being out with injuries and mixed form. The Reds winger has stepped up during this time, starring in Liverpool’s four goal demolition of Barcelona to reach a second Champions League final in as many months.
The time has come for Mane to really push on now after stepping out of the shadow behind Salah and he can really become Liverpool’s main man under Klopp, the first task that faces him is making sure his club win the Champions League in June.
