Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has been rewarded for his fine form throughout August and September, named the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month.
Mane scored three goals and laid on another in five appearances for the Reds in the league, marking a hugely positive start to life on Merseyside.
The Senegalese made the £30 million move from Southampton in the summer amid concerns over his consistency, but has confounded expectations by slotting in seamlessly in Jurgen Klopp‘s 4-3-3.
The award, spread across the first two months of the season due to its mid-August kickoff, was voted for by fans on the Sky Sports website.
This saw Mane take 49 percent of the vote, with 38,199 of the 77,995 cast, beating Kevin De Bruyne (31%), Etienne Capoue (8%), Diego Costa (6%), Michail Antonio (4%) and Curtis Davies (2%).
Mane’s most recent outing saw him score in a scintillating attacking display from the Reds against Hull City, sealing their second Anfield triumph in two home games this season.
The 24-year-old is proving to be a key player within Klopp’s attacking line both on and off the ball.
So far this season, no Liverpool attacker has averaged more successful tackles (2) or dribbles (3.6) per 90 minutes in the league than Mane, while only Philippe Coutinho (133) and James Milner (145.7) have averaged fewer minutes per league goal (149.3).
Mane was named Liverpool’s Player of the Month for August, and will no doubt be a contender for September’s award.
His next opportunity to impress will come away to Swansea City on October 1, and having scored in Southampton‘s 3-1 victory over the Swans at St. Mary’s last season, can look to do the same again.
Speaking as part of Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football coverage this week, Klopp praised the influence of Mane, saying “Sadio brings a new quality with his speed, that’s really nice.”
With the backing of manager and supporters in Liverpool and across the Premier League, Mane can hope for this rich vein of form to continue.
Fan Comments