Danny Murphy has heaped praise on Liverpool forward Sadio Mane after his display against Southampton on Saturday.
The Senegalese star scored the opener and assisted another in the Reds’ 2-1 in over his former side, and Murphy was quick to sing his praises.
Speaking on Match of the Day (BBC One, Sunday August 18th, 9.40am), the pundit said: “He’s becoming more than just a goalscorer.
“He’s got that great pace, he loves to run in behind, as we know. He stretches teams and helps Liverpool play on the counter.
“In a first half today when they were very poor by Liverpool’s standards, that [goal] was a moment of magic.”
OPINION
What can you say about Sadio Mane that hasn’t already been said? The Senegalese international is slowly but surely establishing himself as one of the most dangerous talents in world football. As Murphy rightly points out, he is so much more than a goalscorer, and defenders must have nightmares about having to deal with him. He has started the season at an electric pace, scoring twice in midweek against Chelsea, backing that up with a goal and an assist on Saturday, and creating plenty for his teammates too, with 2.5 key passes per match, as per Whoscored. You would expect him to kick on and have a fantastic season from this point onwards, and if he can make good on his early season form, then he will surely cement his reputation as one of the finest footballers in world football. He sometimes slips under the radar with Mo Salah alongside him, but increasingly, Mane is stepping out of his mate’s shadow.
