OPINION
Over the past five years or so Liverpool have meticulously pieced together arguably the finest team in world football. The crown jewel of that team is, of course, the ferocious front three.
The most unheralded of the trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane – when they were first signed, at least – has always been the latter. Now, though, he is arguably the most in-form of the three.
The Reds faithful, then, will surely have been sweating buckets upon reading BBC pundit and former Premier League striker Noel Whelan’s verdict on the Senegal international on Friday.
“Everyone talks about Mohamed Salah but Mane looks the man and the biggest threat of all,” he told Football Insider. “He would walk into every team in the world – Man City, Real Madrid. Anyone.
“Would Liverpool cash in? Well, they sold [Philippe] Coutinho and [Luis] Suarez, so there’s always that possibility of a Spanish move. He’s such a unique talent, he’s the one you think they will sell if anyone.”
Obviously Liverpool did indeed sell Coutinho and Suarez, but that was a very different team to the formidable outfit the Reds are now. They are now European champions, the dominant force on the continent and favourites to seal a Premier League triumph this season.
However, there’s no doubt that Mane could, as Whelan says, get into any side in world football. Madrid would be better with him in the line-up, while City would love to have him alongside Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero in attack.
The statistics tell you all you need to know about what an effervescent presence he has been this campaign. As per WhoScored.com, the 27-year-old has already scored five goals and grabbed an assist in nine game in all competitions.
Meanwhile, he is averaging 2.2 shots, 2 key passes, and 2 dribbles per game. He is constantly involved and a scorer of increasingly beautiful goals. His strike to open the scoring against Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday was a thing of beauty.
The Liverpool fans won’t want to hear a single word about him potentially leaving the club, then, with Whelan’s touting of a big money exit being on the cards doing him no favours on Merseyside.
