Steve McManaman was left gushing over Sadio Mane after he scored his second goal of the night in Liverpool’s penalty shoot-out win against Chelsea in the Super Cup final on Wednesday night.
Mane put the Reds ahead in the first half of extra time with an emphatic finish after a good pass by game-changer Roberto Firmino.
Ex-Liverpool star McManaman was delighted with what he saw from the Senegal international, who did not show any signs of fatigue in what was his first start of the season in Istanbul.
“You very rarely lose your fitness nowadays but it’s a lovely finish,” McManaman said at half time in extra time on BT Sport 2 on Wednesday night [10:12pm].
“His first one was quite scuffed but the second one was all class, wasn’t it?”
Glenn Hoddle added: “It’s such a good ball from Firmino. He’s looked twice, he’s looking up for support and it’s a perfectly-weighted ball.
“But what a finish.”
OPINION
Mane was top-class for Liverpool in their Super Cup victory against Chelsea. He hardly had a moment to rest in the summer with the Africa Cup of Nations coming around straight after he lifted the Champions League title with the Reds. Jurgen Klopp didn’t start him against Manchester City in the Community Shield and against Norwich last week but it was probably for the best and he was electric against Chelsea – especially once Firmino came onto the pitch. Firmino was the most important player for Liverpool in the end. His introduction off the bench at half-time changed the game after what was an abysmal first half by the Merseyside club. Firmino, Mane and Mohamed Salah just all link up so well and it was great to see them all back up front together. Hopefully they can start against Southampton on Saturday but it would not be a shock if Klopp rested one or two of them.
