Liverpool star Sadio Mane was scintillating during 2019/2020.
This is a two-part series on the PFA Fans’ Premier League Player of the Year for 2019/20, who had a scintillating season as the Reds ran away with the title.
Three Liverpool players won different awards for 2019/20 Player of the Season, which just about sums up the total domination this squad exercised over the rest of the league.
Captain Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold completed the trio who were recognised for their dominant efforts as Liverpool finally landed the domestic crown.
Sadio Mané delivered 18 goals and 7 assists last season. In game after game, his energy and robustness was evident as he evaded tackles and put gegenpressing shifts in, much to the oppositions’ misery – Leicester City can testify to that.
Whilst his return was more in the previous season, this time around Mané was securing vital wins in tight, difficult games (e.g. Villa away, Wolves home, Norwich away, Bournemouth home, West Ham home). He also made telling contributions by scoring key goals in many other games (e.g. Crystal Palace away, Sheffield United home).
Super Mané announced himself on his debut in 2016 at the Emirates Stadium when he tore both Nacho Monreal and Calum Chambers inside out with his right foot and unleashed an arrow into the corner of the net with his left foot. His embrace of Jurgen Klopp after scoring that goal was long awaited.
In a team of graft as well as guile, Mané is as integral to Liverpool as many of his peers. When he is not playing, it is telling. Brighton & Hove Albion’s excellent future prospect Tariq Lamptey had a comfortable first half at the Amex Stadium in July. Then Super Mané was unveiled for the second half. His “running down the wing” led to a devastating lesson for the youngster.
Read more about his exploits in part two of this piece!
Riaz Ravat is a member of Liverpool FC’s Equality & Diversity Fan Forum. He writes in a personal capacity.