He is the one: Ian Wright delivers verdict on 24-year-old Liverpool star
By Will Butcher
Ian Wright believes Sadio Mane is Liverpool’s missing link after the speed machine scored a wonderful brace against Tottenham on Saturday.
Mane scored both goals in Liverpool’s eye-catching 2-0 win over high-flying rivals Tottenham at Anfield on Saturday, ending a dismal run of just one win in seven games.
The 24-year-old has been missing for the start of 2017 as he starred in Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations run that lasted until the quarter finals before a penalty shootout loss to Cameroon.
Speaking on BBC One’s Match of the Day on Saturday, Wright claimed the former Southampton star has given the Reds something that they were missing in the final third.
“Couldn’t win a game without him,” Wright said. “Mane is the one, he is the one with an extra bit of pace and can go in behind. He’s given them something they weren’t doing recently.
“Ben Davies had no chance trying to mark him today, strength, pace and composure. He senses the danger, they couldn’t deal with him.”
Mane scored in both the 16th and 18th minutes as the score remained at 2-0 until the final whistle to the delight of the Anfield crowd.
He almost completed his hat-trick in the 22nd minute in a blistering return to the Liverpool line-up, but was denied by the legs of Hugo Lloris.
Signed in the summer for £35million from Southampton, the winger has starred in a red shirt as he remains Liverpool’s top scorer despite spending a month in Gabon at AFCON.
Having a hand in 18 goals this season, Mane has scored 11 himself against the likes of Arsenal, Everton and Leicester as well as providing seven assists.
The win sees the Reds move back into the Champions League places with the win, but will drop back out if Man City can secure three points against Bournemouth on Monday night.
In other Liverpool news, Stan Collymore has posted this two-word verdict on Tottenham after their 2-0 defeat to Jurgen Klopp’s side.
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