Not another one.
After watching two years of inconsistency from Adam Lallana and several occasions of Dejan Lovren being bullied by trick merchant wingers and domineering centre forwards the sight of another Southampton man being linked felt like déjà vu and ‘just another Southampton player’.
There was a sense of optimism going into Jurgen Klopp’s first summer transfer window in 2016 where a first season of highs and lows had glimpses of the way Liverpool wanted to play. There was encouragement from the likes of Roberto Firmino in his new number nine position and Philippe Coutinho’s usual creativity and elegance on the ball.
Yet one thing was clearly lacking from the attacking line. Pace.
This immediately linked names such as Ousmane Dembele but ended up joining Klopp’s former club Borussia Dortmund and Leroy Sane who moved to the Premier League under Pep Guardiola’s regime at Manchester City. These were some of the most exciting talents in Europe which suited Liverpool’s transfer strategy but were being chased by clubs who at the time seemed more attractive prospects.
Then came Klopp’s and Michael Edward’s solution to recruiting the first of many crucial pieces to the current Premier League, European and world champions which came in the form of a rough diamond groomed on the south coast.
Sadio Mane was no stranger to Jurgen Klopp in his early days at the Austria champions Red Bull Salzburg who have built a recent rapport with Liverpool through the acquisitions of Naby Keita and Takumi Minamino.
His 45 goals in 87 games during his time in Austria was not enough to convince the then Dortmund manager of bringing him into his Bundesliga team, a decision the Liverpool boss admits was a huge mistake.
If seeing Mane afar in a different league didn’t force Klopp’s hand then the close up showing at the backend of 2015/2016 against his side at St Mary made the German’s mind up as he turned a Liverpool side in cruise control who were 2-0 up at half time into a bag of nerves.
From being benched due to a lack of unrest over his discipline on and off the pitch Southampton’s little dynamic winger made himself the hero, terrorising Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho by scoring twice, including the winner, in Southampton’s miraculous 3-2 win over the reds.
The hug from Liverpool’s clearly impressed manager should have been the clue that he found the talented, hard-working speedy wide player who had a strong mentality to deliver when it mattered.
That last pointer proved to be Liverpool’s driving force three and a half years later as their “just another Southampton player” produced a five-minute title-winning performance which clinched victory from the jaws of defeat away at Aston Villa.
An inch-perfect floated ball to the back post by Mane fell perfectly for his compatriot on Liverpool’s left side Andy Robertson to power his bullet header past Tom Heaton and immediately running back to the half-way line seeking a late winner.
Seven minutes later Mane’s beautifully guided 94th-minute near-post header made time stand still as Liverpool fans were praying that was the day, that was the moment where their title dreams came true.
The faces of jubilation, relief, and ecstasy on every Liverpool player in their white away kit reflected how crucial keeping the six points gap between Liverpool and their title rivals Manchester City ahead of their meeting the following week.
In another timeline Villa held onto their 1-0 lead leading to City smelling blood as a result of reducing Klopp’s side at the top to one victory away from being level on points, sending anxiety waves through all Kopites knowing City had the momentum. Thanks to Sadio Mane’s determined efforts this particular narrative was on Liverpool’s side which he has certainly played his part in throughout his time at Anfield.
Going all the way back to his debut at the Emirates on the opening day of the 2016/2017 season Liverpool’s new £30 million signing arrived in style with a goal that set the tone of his impact on this team.
The acceleration to past by Calum Chambers, the skill to ease past Rob Holding in the box and the unstoppable thunderbolt into the top corner was a taster of the excitement that was to come.
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A promising first season included 13 league goals which include the memorable 94th winner at Goodison. Yet his absence due to playing for his country at the African Cup of Nations was notable in the results through January 2017 which halted Liverpool’s momentum.
Nevertheless, scraping a top-four finish with Mane’s influence at the heart of it is now more crucial than it was at the time. If Liverpool were pipped to 4th by Arsenal on that agonising final day of the 2016/2017 season the platform to move for superstar names such as Mo Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Allison Becker would have never materialised.
Mane’s transitional season in 2017/2018 started with being classed Liverpool’s main man before a harsh red card away at Man City instigated a period of inconsistency which would lead to his status quickly being overtaken by a ridiculous 44 goal season from Mo Salah.
Even in a season when questions were being asked about Liverpool being over-reliant on Salah it was Mane who scored in every round of the Champions League including the final itself.
Take away Liverpool’s goalkeeping calamity and a goal in a lifetime by Gareth Bale their then no.19 would have had his crowning moment that could have delivered number six in Kyiv. Luckily he would enjoy the feeling 12 months later.
Ten months later the moment finally came. The moment that everyone took note of how much of a world-class talent Saido Mane is.
During a season of focusing on Liverpool’s two-horse race with Man City for the Premier League, the Champions League seemed like the lesser priority.
That was until Bayern Munich came up as the Red’s opponent for their last 16 tie which lacked something special until 26 minutes into the second leg. A precise long field pass from Van Dijk was brought down majestically by Mane who had the composure to turn past Germany’s number one goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and dinked the ball into the far corner.
The audacity of turning the opposite way of Neuer and the finish summed up Mane form during 2018/2019 as the quick-thinking ruthless finisher he is known as today.
Finishing the season as joint top goalscorer with 22 goals was evidence of the evolution from an underwhelming signing that many weren’t convinced into Lionel Messi’s pick for the Ballon d’Or.
When you thought Mane couldn’t get any better his presence on Liverpool’s left hand side has devastated defenses at times with his sharpness, intelligence, or frighting pace. At times where his side’s resolve was being tested was the one taking the responsibility on his shoulders by wanting the ball and playing like his life depended on getting a result which brought Anfield’s 30 years of pain to an end.
Of course, the emotions in the celebrations of his Villa Park heroics represented how huge a moment that was in the title race. Eight days later and with all the action on the pitch between Liverpool and Man City that grabbed the headlines it was Mane releasing all his joy with pumping his fists towards the LFCTV cameras as well as the expression in his face that portrayed the significance of the result.
It was the actions of a man determined to drag his side to what they and all fans of LFC have craved for so long and finally, Wednesday is the reward that Klopp’s first major signing has earned for four years of hard work and brilliance.
The ridiculing replies form opposition to a tweet by Sky Sports reporting Liverpool were paying for £30 million is a perfect reminder of how unprepared the footballing world was for Sadio Mane’s arrival on the big stage.
Article by Jake Clay – @JakeClay17
