Sadio Mane is one of the five worst finishers in the Premier League this season.
That’s according to statistics account Orbinho on Twitter as corroborated by Fotmob. In accordance with their list, Mane comes in joint fourth lowest in terms of underperformance against xG (expected goals).
The Liverpool man has scored four less goals than he would have been expected to. Only Gabriel Jesus, Bryan Mbuemo and Alexandre Lacazette have underperformed to a greater level.
However, of the other players on the list, none has scored more than five. Mane may have missed some gilt-edged chances himself, but he has still found the net 12 times.
That also puts him joint fourth in Premier League terms. It’s a funny old game.
Mane through the middle
Most of Mane’s goals this season, and throughout much of his Liverpool career, have come from the left-wing.
However, since Luis Diaz’s January arrival, Jurgen Klopp has taken to playing Mane as Liverpool’s most central forward.
This has had sometimes mixed results. The £34 million man (BBC Sport) found the net against West Ham United from the position, and again last night against Benfica.
But he doesn’t feel like a natural centre-forward when playing that role. His control can sometimes let him down when dropping deep with his back to goal.
When Liverpool have numbers pushing ahead of him in expectance of a quick break, a poor touch can leave The Reds exposed to counter-attacks.
It goes to show just how different Roberto Firmino’s job description is to the wide attacker for Liverpool. Firmino’s skillset is tailor-made for the false nine position that he plays.
Mane’s is virtually tailor-made to be the inverted winger that he has been so effectively over the last six years. Wreaking havoc from wide is where Mane does most of his best work.
But as long as he’s scoring poachers goals like the one last night, he’s handy wherever Klopp chooses to play him.
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