Sadio Mane is preparing to put the final details on his Liverpool exit today.
The 30-year-old is expected to undergo a medical in Munich ahead of being announced as a new Bayern player.
It brings to an end a stunning six years at Anfield, in which the forward won every trophy he played in for Liverpool.
In the midst of all that silverware, Mane bagged 120 goals and gave us some truly unforgettable moments. With that in mind, here’s the top five Mane moments at Liverpool, ranked from five to one.
5. Mane slays the Dragons
In February 2018, Liverpool found themselves in the Champions League knockout rounds for the first time in nine years.
Standing in their way was an awkward looking trip to Porto. Thanks largely to Mane though, Liverpool made light work of their Portuguese opponents.
Playing in bright orange, Mane was on fire as he flashed in a hattrick to lead The Reds to a devasting 5-0 win. It was the only time three of his 120 goals for the club all came in the same match.
4. Derby delight at Goodison
December 2016 brought Mane’s first taste of the Merseyside Derby. The then 24-year-old had started his Liverpool career well and looked destined to be the man to make the difference.
So it proved, and in dramatic fashion too.
As the game dribbled into injury time with the score at 0-0, Daniel Sturridge saw a tame effort trickle past Joel Robles and hit the inside of the post.
Sensing the chance, Mane reacted first. Sprinting to the ball, he buried it into the empty net to queue flares and pandemonium in the away end at Goodison Park.
3. A sign of things to come
Mane’s arrival at Liverpool had been greeted with some scepticism over whether he was really worth the asking price.
He answered those critics in emphatic style with a debut goal to remember away at Arsenal on the opening day of 2016/17.
Racing down the right wing, Mane beat two defenders, cut inside and curled a left-footed blast into Petr Cech’s top corner.
A great goal was made even better by Mane sprinting to Jurgen Klopp. The manager got caught up in the moment and gave his new talisman a piggy-back in-front of the Arsenal fans. Utter magic.
2. Now you’re gonna believe us
As a result of Liverpool running away with the Premier League title in 2019/20, it can be forgotten that things were tight at one stage.
In November 2019, Liverpool travelled to Aston Villa three points clear at the top of the table. A first-half goal from Trezeguet looked to give The Reds the worst result ahead of Manchester City’s visit to Anfield the following week.
But Liverpool wouldn’t be denied. First Andy Robertson bulleted home an equaliser in the 87th minute, before Mane gave Liverpool a priceless moment.
Stooping to meet the ball, and a defender’s boot, from a near-post corner, Mane flashed in the winner with 90+4 on the clock. Three points were in the bag and Liverpool’s momentum was restored. A truly defining moment in a brilliant season.
1. Magic in Munich
Liverpool fans may debate what Mane’s best moment for the club was, but we’re in no doubt at all.
His pirouetted goal to send Manuel Neuer back to Schalke in March 2019 announced Liverpool as being back amongst Europe’s elite.
Yes, they’d been to the Champions League final the previous year, but that could have been an anomaly.
The way Mane took down Virgil Van Dijk’s long-ball before turning the best ‘keeper in the world inside out made the rest of Europe sit up and take notice.
It was a magnificent goal that highlighted just how good-a-player Mane is. Liverpool’s number 10 duly buried a super header late in the game to seal The Reds’ progression to the quarter-final of a tournament they’d end up winning.
Five moments which could easily be stretched to fifty. We’ll not see another player like Mane at the club for quite some time. Thanks for everything, Sadio.
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