The Most Expensive Liverpool XI Of All Time

3. LM: Sadio Mane

Liverpool 2019 2020 away kit
By Дмитрий Садовников (soccer.ru) [CC BY-SA 3.0GFDL, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

What is it about Liverpool buying players from Southampton? Lovren, van Dijk, Clyne, Lallana, Peter Crouch and even Rickie Lambert. And of course who could forget Sadio Mane.

The Senegalese winger was impressive during his two years at St. Marys and duly became the first major signing of the Klopp era. And much like Salah, Mane has developed into world class forward under the German manager.

He's mustered up a mighty 77 goals in his three and-a-bit seasons at Anfield, has been named in the PFA Team of the Year twice and finished joint top goalscorer in the league last season.

Alongside Salah and Firmino, Mane is part of the deadliest front three in world football right now. Much like the Gerrard v Lampard argument, the question of who is better, Mane or Salah, will surely be debated for many years to come. Personally, while Salah tends to grab the headlines more, I am more inclined to favour Mane, whose work-rate, technique, shooting and passing ability, put him in the same category as the likes of Messi and Ronaldo.

Southampton must be kicking themselves that they didn't ask for more.

Contributor
Contributor

22-year-old journalism graduate from Croydon. When I'm not moaning about or singing the praises of Doctor Who or a great film or two, I'm (unsuccessfully) looking for a job or setting up a podcast. Again usually unsuccessfully.