Sadio Mane: Liverpool must use this in top four race
By Dominic Toner
Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane believes that his side must make the most of the time they have between fixtures as they try to finish inside the top four.
The Reds have just 13 games remaining this season and they all come in the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were eliminated from both the EFL and FA Cup in January, plus they have not had the welcomed distraction of European football to contend with this season.
The Merseyside club are currently fifth-placed in the table and possess a much less busier schedule than their top four rivals.
The Premier League’s runaway leaders Chelsea seem certain to at least finish inside the top four, meaning Liverpool will be competing for three remaining spots alongside Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United and City.
There are just four points separating those five sides in the league table between second and sixth, but Klopp’s team are the only one who don’t have to negotiate any games in Europe between their league fixtures.
Mane feels the Reds need to put together a winning run until the end of the season and must use the time between games wisely.
“It’s too early to speak about what’s going to happen but the confidence is back in this team now,” Mane told the Liverpool Echo. “We have to take it game by game and try to win every game between now and the end of the season. We have time to rest and time to train so we need to use that.”
Mane’s recent return from the Africa Cup of Nations helped Liverpool end their poor form with a 2-0 win against Spurs at Anfield on Saturday.
The 24-year-old scored a first-half brace as they cruised to the three points over their top four rivals and kept them right in contention for a Champions League spot.
The right winger has now scored 11 goals and supplied seven assists since his £30million arrival from Southampton in the summer.
Liverpool should be able to implement their high intensity style with so few games coming up and their next match is not until 27 February against Leicester, before facing only three games during March.
In other Liverpool news, Stan Collymore believes this player may end up surplus to requirements.
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