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It is arguably the most celebrated attack trio in Premier League history, the attack force that shot Liverpool to become European and world champions and scared Pep Guardiola in the process. But it did not happen overnight. The Reds already had Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah to come, but there was another piece to the puzzle that came first …
For the umpteenth time, Sadio Mane was fully justifying Jurgen Klopp’s expectations.
However, all the German wanted to do was hit himself.
The sight of the Senegalese taking down another defense only served to remind Klopp of what it might have been like had he not been wrong on the precautionary side in the summer of 2014.
After following Mane’s progress from an impressive performance at the 2012 Olympics, then-Borussia Dortmund boss held talks with the RB Salzburg player about a possible move to Westfalenstadion.
“I made a mistake,” said Klopp. “We met, we talked, but in the end I didn’t feel it. I like the player, it was more of a feeling.
“His baseball cap was crooked, the blonde streak he still has today. He looked like a rapper just starting out. I thought, “I don’t have time for this.” I would say that I have a good feeling about people, but I was wrong!
“In Dortmund we could only get one player for this position, not two or three, so it had to be exactly right at the moment.
“About three months later, he would have punched me, so he already knew that the next opportunity he had, he would take advantage of.”
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But when such an opportunity came two years later with Klopp preparing to seal his authority with a first summer transfer market in the Liverpool’s hot seat, Mane had not been the initial focus of attention.
Only when the Reds boss had to admit defeat in his attempt to lure former Dortmund protégé Mario Gotze of Bayern Munich did he return to the player whose hats had left him so stunned two years earlier.
Mane, meanwhile, had flirted with Manchester United in January, then Southampton boss Ronald Koeman dropped him when that interest intensified, and he was also on Tottenham Hotspur’s radar.
But he had left several reminders for Klopp the previous season. Mane scored and was sent off in the German’s third game, a 1-1 draw at home with Southampton, and scored the Saints’ first game in an eventual 6-1 win for the Reds in the League Cup. months later.
And in March, with Liverpool leading 2-0 at halftime at St Mary’s, Mane stepped off the bench to miss a penalty kick and scored twice, his first goals in four months, as Southampton struggled to win 3-2.
“It was a pretty simple decision with Sadio,” said Klopp. “When the club came this summer and Michael Edwards said we had a chance, there were no more conversations necessary. It was a “Let’s do it” case.
“Since I came here, I have talked a lot with the staff about him and have always felt that he could be a very good signing for us.
“It would have been more expensive if we had taken it to Dortmund and then sold it to Liverpool, so everything is good for Liverpool.” The more I think about it, that was my first decision in Liverpool. Nice!”
Tired of having the Reds regularly select their top talent, Southampton wanted £ 40 million but, after several weeks of haggling, a £ 30 million deal was agreed.
Liverpool could also thank a former manager for putting Mane on his way to Anfield, with Gerard Houllier helping to get him to Salzburg for the Metz fight. But for the player, Klopp was the main influence on his movement to the north.
“I spoke to him and I think he played an important role in my arrival in Liverpool and I want to thank him for all the trust,” said Mane.
“He said he wanted me to go and I didn’t try to ask myself questions because I was convinced that Liverpool was the right club for me.” It’s the right club, the right coach, and the right time to change. “
Mane’s performances during the preseason sparked silent excitement, a goal in a 4-0 friendly victory over Barcelona at Wembley.
But no one expected the business card the Senegalese presented in his competitive debut with an exciting career and shot to the top corner at the Emirates against Arsenal. Even her manager was carried away.
“It is not allowed to celebrate a fourth goal when there are still 30 minutes left,” said Klopp. “I knew it at the time that I shouldn’t be celebrating, but it was too late, I had Sadio on his back!”
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Liverpool held on to win 4-3 and was an indicator of what was to come for the player and the team that season.
Mane, playing on the right flank, scored another eight goals, most notable as a late winner at Goodison, and contributed seven assists before being forced to head to Gabon for the African Cup of Nations service with Senegal in January. from 2017.
It was during his absence that Mane’s influence became evident, Liverpool lost both stages of their League Cup semi-final against their former club Southampton and was defeated at home by fighting Swansea City in the Premier League. They won only one in seven games and scored only five times.
Firmino had started the season centrally and hit a purple patch in the fall with five goals and five assists in eight Premier League outings before moving to the left wing with Divock Origi preferred up front.
With Mane back from a disappointing international stay, his unsuccessful penalty against Cameroon cost Senegal a place in the semifinals, Firmino remained as the ninth and contributed a goal in the home win against Arsenal and assists against the Gunners, the Manchester City and Everton.
His Senegalese teammate also scored against Everton and Arsenal while getting a quick-fire boost in the win over Tottenham Hotspur. But his departure in the Anfield derby was interrupted by a collision with Leighton Baines, who suffered a knee injury that later ended his season.
Of course, it wasn’t just about Mane and Firmino. Except for six weeks on the sidelines at Christmas with an ankle problem, Philippe Coutinho had been a regular left of Klopp’s preferred 4-3-3 formation.
The season started with five goals and five assists in the first 11 Premier League games, but it was during filming, with Mane out and Liverpool chasing the Champions League standings, that Coutinho came into play, with seven goals in the final. nine games
“We think the same way,” said Firmino of the attacking trio. “We know what we are going to do before we own the ball. We always understand each other in games and with our skills everything went well.
“Philippe is a magician, who works magic with every shot, who always helps score goals and his incredible movements. He is always doing his best on the field. “
However, Mane’s injury had exposed a problem that Klopp knew he had to deal with if he wanted Firmino to become the regular number nine.
Another broad attacker was required, preferably one who could score goals. The three forwards were about to become a fabulous four, at least for a time.
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