BBC pundit: This was the player responsible for Liverpool demolishing Tottenham
By Harvey Byrne
Garth Crooks has named Sadio Mane in his team of the week after he helped Liverpool demolish Tottenham en route to a 2-0 win on Saturday.
The 24-year-old put the Spurs defence to the sword after scoring on two occasions and running them ragged with a sensational display.
His first goal was the result of his electric pace allowing him through on goal to apply a cool finish, while he reacted first to a save from Hugo Lloris for his second.
His fine display caught the eye of pundit Crooks, who named Mane in his team of the week on the BBC Sport website and believed he could have finished with more goals.
“I don’t know what it is about Spurs and Anfield but they have only won there eight times in 81 league visits,” told Crooks to BBC Sport.
“What’s that about? The person responsible on this occasion for continuing Tottenham’s dismal record against Liverpool was Sadio Mane.
“The Senegal international, fresh from the Africa Cup of Nations, could have scored four goals and should have scored a hat-trick in six minutes. Suddenly, the team with one of the best defensive records in the league looked like a unit that had never played together before.
“However, it was the honesty of Mauricio Pochettino that made me think that Spurs still have the desire to finish in the top two. “We started only four points above Liverpool, but we didn’t look like that today,” said the more than slightly irritated Argentine.
“Spurs fans can forget league titles if their team can’t go to Anfield and get a result… Chelsea did.”
Liverpool won just one game without Mane while he was at the AFCON with Senegal, coming in an FA Cup replay with Plymouth.
Saturday’s victory marked their first league win since their three points picked up against Manchester City on New Years Eve.
They will now be keen to form a run with Mane back in their team, who has contributed 11 goals and provided seven in 24 appearances in all competitions for the Merseyside giants since his summer move from Southampton.
They will face League champions Leicester next who are struggling themselves with one point keeping them from the relegation zone.
In other Liverpool news, the Reds are looking to solve this problem area with £30million-rated Premier League winner.
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