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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has given a glowing verdict on the qualities of his superstar attacker Sadio Mane, explaining that his recent troubles in front of goal have not impacted his overall performances.

Aged 28, Mane looks in the prime his career right now and he’s been one of the standout individuals at Anfield during the past few years.

The £150,000-a-week star (Guardian) has already established himself in Reds folklore given his impact on Merseyside, netting 87 times in 190 appearances across all competitions.

He scored in the recent 7-0 demolition of Crystal Palace and it remarkably ended a run of eight Premier League games in a row without finding the back of the net.

The blistering left-winger is a full-back’s worst nightmare with his pace, trickery, directness and energy, something which ranks him up with some of the world’s best forward players.

Klopp claims he wasn’t aware of Mane’s mini goal drought and is more focused on how well he’s been playing.

“He played exceptionally well [during his recent goal drought], he is in really good shape, he is unbelievably difficult to defend. If Sadio has the ball, as an opponent you need to put pretty much two or three players on that side and that opens up for us a lot of things,” he said.

“If Sadio starts scoring now again I have absolutely no problem with it but it was not about his performances, the performances were really, really good.”

TBR’s View:

Mane has six goals and four assists in 20 appearances across all competitions so far this season, which are numbers he’ll surely be desperate to boost.

The Senegal international is part of a formidable front trio alongside Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, plus summer signing Diogo Jota has been added into the mix to give the team even more firepower.

Neutrals will all be aware of how breathtaking Mane can be in attack, but his defensive work off the ball and his high press is often overlooked.