Sadio Mane has failed to score in his last three Liverpool matches. While that stat isn’t all that worrying, the forward’s play over the course of the last 270 minutes hasn’t been good. Mane has had little influence on Liverpool’s last three matches.
After breaking his thumb on international duty in October, Mane sat out Liverpool’s slim win over Huddersfield. He returned the next match against Cardiff and scored twice. Since beating the Bluebirds 4-2, Mane has been anonymous in Liverpool’s last three matches.
Against Arsenal, Mane managed a 67 percent pass success rate and just one shot. In the Champions League versus Red Star Belgrade, Mane improved on his passing, but he was still unable to break through the opposing defence. His pace was nullified by Red Star and in the end, made no impact on the game.
While Liverpool defeated Fulham 2-0 on Sunday, the Reds were fortunate to walk away with the win. If VAR was instituted this season, Liverpool’s may not have won all three points. Mane again failed to make a solid impact with just a 61 percent pass success rate and three shots off target.
Mane has recorded six goals this season in the Premier League. Until scoring twice against Cardiff, Mane hadn’t found the back of the net since September 1st against Leicester. Not only is Mane not scoring consistently, but the Senegalese forward is yet to record an assist.
To be fair, in 2017-18, Mane tallied 10 goals in 29 Premier League games. It was three fewer than his previous term at Anfield. But the Senegalese international added seven assists. The creativity isn’t there from the forward this term.
What’s wrong with Liverpool’s attack?
Yes, Liverpool’s front three isn’t scoring as freely as last term, but for the most part, Mane and Robert Firmino are the ones letting down the attack. The duo looks tired after a long 2017-18 season followed by the World Cup. Add in continued high-level of play with the Reds and jetting off to play internationals during the breaks, and Liverpool’s top stars are in need of a rest.
Liverpool are set for a crunch set of fixtures in the run-up to Christmas. A trip to Watford is up next in the Premier League followed by an away date with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, the Merseyside Derby and a home European fixture with Napoli.
Mane isn’t the only Liverpool player struggling for form. He may be the most important player for Liverpool to return to a high standard, however.
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