Jurgen Klopp explains key reason behind Sadio Mane’s solid start to new season

Sadio Mane has had a sensational start to the new Premier League season with three goals in his two appearances against West Ham United and Crystal Palace.

Mane was far from poor last season, but many believed he didn’t quite reach the levels of the 2016-17 campaign. Despite those claims, he still managed to score 20 goals for the Reds last season.

Jurgen Klopp on the other hand could not be happier with how the Senegalese international is travelling at Anfield, despite some criticism the winger received throughout the 2017-18 campaign.

“Sadio did start pretty well last year. He was in fantastic shape then came the City game and an unlucky situation. That was not good,” Klopp said, as quoted by The Liverpool Echo.

“I think he had an injury then as well, a little one. Now he’s much more secure that this is his level.

“The players surprise themselves sometimes. ‘Wow, really? That’s how good I am?’ We all need to show our best and get used to it.

“Sadio is a very consistent player for us. His work rate is great. We have a very strange 4-5-1 formation with Sadio as a midfielder, Bobby (Firmino) being a midfielder more or less and Mo (Salah) being a striker, even though he plays in a little different position.

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LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 20: Sadio Mane scores for Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, London. (Photo by AFP)

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“We talk about the defensive work rate they put in and that’s really important.

“Pre-season was not the longest (for Mane), three weeks after three weeks of holiday. I think the first game he and Mo played was (Manchester) City, right? That was after three or four days training.

“It’s quality. We have to make sure we can show that every week. Who scores the goals is not too important but it was very important for us and very nice for Sadio that he could do it.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com