Sadio Mane picked up the African player of the year award earlier this week – and deserves to be the clear favourite to win the PFA player of the season prize at the end of this campaign.
That’s the view of the Sky Sports Football Weekend Preview podcast panel ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Tottenham on Saturday evening, live on Sky Sports.
Mane shared the Premier League golden boot with team-mate Mohamed Salah and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the end of 2018/19 and has continued that form to propel Liverpool clear at the top of the table this term.
The Senegal forward has 11 goals and six assists to his name in the top flight – only Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne (seven goals, 12 assists) and Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy (17 goals, three assists) have more goal contributions this season.
Mane has repeatedly stepped up and delivered in key moments, scoring in narrow wins over Southampton, Leicester, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Wolves and Sky Sports football journalist Jack Wilkinson says he has become Liverpool’s main man.
“It’s a season that’s been nothing short of phenomenal,” Wilkinson said on the Sky Sports Football Weekend Preview podcast.
“Fifteen goals and 11 assists in 28 games for Liverpool across all competitions. Ridiculous numbers considering we’re only halfway through the campaign. He was crowned African player of the year – a deserved, worthy winner – and I’d go as far as saying now he has overtaken Salah as the main attacking threat at Liverpool.
“Yes, the front three all have their own roles to play but Mane keeps delivering the goods consistently, keeps scoring the goals that make a difference.
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“Had it not been for his goals this season, Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League would only have been one point. They’d have been entrenched in a proper Premier League title race. As it happens, they’re 13 points clear because of his goals and he’s been unplayable for the last 18 months to two years. His consistency is frightening.