Jurgen Klopp had incredibly high praise for Sadio Mané after the forward helped Liverpool beat Aston Villa tonight. The Reds star is on fire.
Liverpool had to fight for every bit of their win over Aston Villa on Tuesday evening. Steven Gerrard’s side made sure of it.
Villa pressed Liverpool incredibly high at times – higher than virtually anyone does. They wanted to pile the pressure on the Reds’ buildup-play from the back and you’ve got to say they did a wonderful job of it. Their lead inside three minutes wasn’t exactly a shock.
Liverpool answered back quickly, though, as Joel Matip equalised two minutes later. From there, both sides traded shots and they played with incredible energy.
Just one more goal would be enough to seal things – Sadio Mané bagged it for Liverpool from a Luis Diaz cross. It capped what was another great performance from the Senegal star, as Jurgen Klopp was happy to point out after the game.
Jurgen Klopp on Liverpool’s Sadio Mané
“He’s a machine and I told him after the game,” Klopp told Sky Sports. “Massive player, massive player.
“His physicality is brutal. The mix of technique, desire and physicality at the moment when everybody has a few yards in their legs – you can’t see it with him, to be honest.
“Top goal. Fantastic, world-class player.”
Yet another decisive moment from Mané, then. He’s simply on fire right now and this is probably the best football of his career. Liverpool can’t live without him at the moment.
That’s now eight goals in 11 games – all while learning to play a new central role. It’s incredible stuff and Mané continues to deliver in big games with big moments.
And whereas it’s clear that Mohamed Salah does feel the effects of playing so much football this season, Mané somehow doesn’t. The ‘machine’ continues to deliver – and Liverpool will need him to over the next few weeks.
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