Liverpool’s Sadio Mane was the polar opposite of his usual brilliant self during the 2-0 defeat to Atalanta at Anfield.
He certainly tried, but the magic in his boots just was not there.
Mane managed just one dribble on the night and touched the ball on just 46 occasions.
It was a long stretch from his usual high standards and even during his darkest moments against Atalanta, there was still a sense that Mane could still conjure up one moment of magic.
In the end, it didn’t quite happen and Mane, as well as the majority of his teammates, looked totally exhausted and out of ideas in what was Liverpool’s second of 12 matches to come over a 41 day period.
Mane did not create a single chance. Not from open play, nor from a set piece.
It wasn’t for a lack of effort. But there was a huge drop-off in quality from the player who wreaked havoc against Leicester only three days prior to the defeat.
It was the first time since Opta started collecting data in the Champions League (since 2003-04), that Liverpool failed to record a single shot on target in a home game in the competition.
Liverpool managed just one solitary attempt in the first half and there not much improvement after the break either.
Mane completed only 64 per cent of his passes, wasting possession far too frequently.
In his defence, Mane’s attacking counterparts Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi both also did very little to leave any kind of lasting impact on the game.
James Milner and Curtis Jones also failed to establish a stronghold in the game, with Liverpool’s midfield system just not clicking.
However, for a player who is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, there is no doubt that the biggest critic of his overall performance will be Mane himself.
He will hope to put matters right quickly against Brighton on Saturday afternoon.
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