Sadio Mane: “That game cemented his Liverpool fate” — Souness

Two years after Sadio Mane left Liverpool, the club still grapples with filling the void left by the iconic winger.

While the search for a new wide player continues, the question looms large: Did Mane lose his fire after Liverpool’s Premier League triumph in 2020?

Liverpool legend Graeme Souness certainly thinks so. Reflecting on Mane’s post-title performances, Souness pinpointed a significant change in the Senegalese star’s attitude.

He recalls a telling moment during Liverpool’s 2020 loss to Arsenal, where Sadio Mane, involved in a physical tussle with Rob Holding, walked away smiling—something the fiercely competitive Mane of old would never have done.

Souness didn’t hold back, stating:

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“Normal circumstances Mane goes to war with you… that tells you where they are – they are in their armchairs.”

For Souness, that shift in mentality marked the beginning of the end for Mane at Anfield, despite his ability to still deliver on the pitch.

Mane’s subsequent dip in form during the pandemic-affected 2020/21 season, which he called the worst of his career, only reinforced Souness’ concerns. Though he rebounded in his final season at Liverpool, scoring 23 goals across all competitions, the spark that once made him unstoppable seemed to have dimmed.

With Sadio Mane now in Saudi Arabia and Liverpool still hunting for a true successor on the wings, the Reds are left wondering if they’ll ever find someone who can replicate his impact. As Mohamed Salah’s contract nears its end, Liverpool’s need for a long-term solution out wide becomes even more pressing.