Mane’s instant impact

Liverpool’s deal for Sadio Mane was questioned in some quarters, but he has made an immediate impact following his arrival from Southampton. Ahead of the Reds’ Friday Night Football clash with Chelsea, we examine his impressive start to life under Jurgen Klopp…

Even in a record-breaking summer of Premier League spending, Liverpool’s decision to splash £36m on Sadio Mane raised eyebrows. The Reds have experienced mixed success with signings from St Mary’s in recent years and, despite the huge price-tag, the 24-year-old was not the marquee addition many supporters were hoping for.

One month into the new campaign, however, and Mane is neatly illustrating why Jurgen Klopp has so little appetite for big names. The former Southampton winger has been one of the Premier League’s outstanding performers so far, and, even more significantly, he looks tailor-made for his new manager’s explosive, high-pressing playing style.

It started with a scintillating performance in the 4-3 win over Arsenal on the opening day, where he surged past Nacho Monreal and Calum Chambers before smashing a spectacular shot inside Petr Cech’s far post with his weaker foot. It was Liverpool’s fourth goal in an 18-minute blitz at the Emirates Stadium, and it was fitting that Mane made a beeline for Klopp in the celebrations.

Having added another goal and an assist in Liverpool’s 4-1 demolition of Leicester on Saturday, Mane has now played a starring role against each of last season’s top two. He had a hand in four of Liverpool’s five goals in their Capital One Cup clash with Burton Albion in between, and he was a notable absence in their 2-0 loss to Burnley.

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