Sadio Mane has explained why Liverpool’s front trio are so devastating, praising his relationship with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
The Reds’ success this season has been built around the fluidity and goalscoring efforts of their three forwards, who have netted 88 times between them in all competitions.
Salah (43) is the clear front-runner, ensuring the tallies of both Firmino (27) and Mane (18) are largely overlooked, with the former enjoying his most productive campaign yet.
No player in the Premier League has laid on more goals for a single team-mate than Mane has for Salah (six), level with Cesar Azpilicueta’s record number of assists for Alvaro Morata.
It is this selfless approach, and the camaraderie shared between the trio, that Mane believes has made them so effective:
“I think the secret is that we are close friends with each other.
“I always love to play alongside these great players because we understand each other so well.
“We try to move for each other. It gets easier for us the more we train together and the more we know each other.
“It is great fun to have players like Mo and Roberto near me. It is always enjoyable.
“I am always happy to give an assist to my friend.
“You can see it on the pitch. I always look for Mo and Roberto and they always look for me. I think this makes us a better team.”
This team spirit has provided the Reds with an unpredictability in the final third, as while Salah is clearly the main threat, both Mane and Firmino are genuine dangers too.
There has been a sense that Salah’s pursuit of the Premier League Golden Boot has altered the Egyptian’s approach in recent weeks, but bar Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Stoke City this has not been to the detriment of Liverpool’s progress.
Mane’s assertion that the chemistry between him and his fellow forwards is paramount is hugely encouraging, and distinguishes this incarnation of the Reds’ attack with that of 2013/14.
In that impressive side, Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez were similarly prolific but more individualistic, with their rivalry a short-term positive.
Under Klopp, however, Mane, Firmino and Salah not only want to work for each other but, hopefully, will look to stay together for the foreseeable future.
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