One of the best three in the world? Eight stats to sum up Mane’s brilliance

Quick Reads

Planet Football
3rd October 2019

Sadio Mane continued his fine form with another goal in Liverpool‘s 4-3 Champions League victory over RB Salzburg on Wednesday night at Anfield.

During the match, former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas tweeted: “Mane for me is top 3 players in the world and has been for a while. Top top level.”

Harry Redknapp-isms aside, we’ve taken a look at the stats that illustrate exactly why Mane is a top, top player.

– So far this season, Mane averages a goal or assist every 98.6 minutes.

– Mane has become just the third Liverpool player to score 15+ goals in the Champions League after Mo Salah and Steven Gerrard.

– Over the course of his Liverpool career, Mane averages a goal or assist in the Champions League every 119.6 minutes.

Sadio Mane scores the goal the put Liverpool ahead of his former club RB Salzburg!#LFC

pic.twitter.com/cYMgeo0q1g

— RouteOneFootball (@RouteOneTweets) October 2, 2019

– Only Sergio Aguero (20) has scored more Premier League goals than Mane’s 18 in 2019.

– Mane has scored four Premier League goals this season despite recording an xG of just 2.84. In comparison, Salah’s four goals have come from an xG of 4.1.

– In every single one of his full seasons as a professional, Mane has hit double figures for goals. He needs just three more goals to extend that run to 2019-20, despite having played just 10 games so far this term.

– You have to go back to 2011-12, when Mané was just breaking through into a Metz side which was relegated from Ligue 2 (he didn’t make his debut until January), for the last time the forward failed to contribute 20+ goals and assists in all competitions in a single season.

– Lionel Fuckin’ Messi voted for Mane as the best player in the world at the recent FIFA awards.