Talking Tactics

Golden Boot: Mane taking central role for Liverpool

10 May 2019

Adrian Clarke on why the Senegalese forward has smashed his previous PL goals record

Adrian Clarke looks at the top five contenders for the Golden Boot ahead of Sunday's final round of fixtures.

LIV

2-0

WOL

Sadio Mane (20 goals)

Liverpool’s front three have been rotating and interchanging positions more often this season, and Mane has flourished as a result.

The Senegalese forward has come in off the flanks to occupy more goalscoring positions.

This has led to the doubling of his Premier League goal tally from 10 last season to 20 this term, with 18 of those strikes coming from the central section of the penalty area.

It leaves him joint-second in the race for the Golden Boot, level with Sergio Aguero and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and just two goals behind the leader, his team-mate Mohamed Salah.

Heading for the top

Across the previous two campaigns only one of Mane’s 23 PL goals were headers, but he has five to his name this season.

Indeed, all of his last three goals have been scored in this manner.

Burnley’s Chris Wood and Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic are the only players to score more headed goals in the PL this term, with six apiece.

Mane's PL goals

2018/19	Total
Left foot	5
Right foot	10
Header	5

Mane has been contributing fewer assists this season, despite his running power and skill in wide areas.

In fact he has made just one PL goal, compared to seven in 2017/18.

Appearances

263
Goals

111
Assists

38
Shots

629

But that is a sign of the way he has developed his game and the fact that he is now seeking to attack crosses, rather than deliver them.

Able to finish with either his foot or his head, and blessed with great speed and movement, Mane has all the tools to be a complete forward.

It has been a smart move by Jurgen Klopp to find a way to deploy the 27-year-old as a second striker, rather than a winger who chips in with the occasional goal.

Great anticipation

One of Mane’s greatest strengths is his knack of knowing how to time angled runs.

When he slides in from the flanks his team-mates are adept at picking him out, and when his full-backs receive the ball on the wings he has a habit of ghosting into the penalty area undetected.

Mane’s most profitable relationships are with his fellow forwards Salah and Roberto Firmino.

But he is also on the same wavelength as the two full-backs and James Milner, three players who always look to put crosses into the box.