Danny Murphy claims Sadio Mane has been Liverpool’s ‘best player’

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Liverpool recorded a late win against Leicester City to maintain their 100% start to the new Premier League season on Saturday.

Danny Murphy has claimed that Sadio Mane has been Liverpool’s ‘best player’ this season following their controversial 2-1 win against Leicester City on Saturday.

Mane helped Liverpool to all three points against the Foxes by opening the scoring for his team in the first half and then winning a penalty in stoppage-time, which was converted by James Milner.

The Reds forward, who joined the club from Southampton in 2016 for £34 million [BBC Sport], has been going from strength to strength ever since he made that switch.

Speaking to Match of the Day on BBC One (05/10/2019 at 10:30 pm), Murphy lauded Mane as an individual and stated that ‘it’s not just about his quality’.

“It’s not just about his quality,” Murphy told Match of the Day. “Durability, tenacity, everything about him is just brilliant. He’s been their best player. 61 games he played last season. He played in the summer for Senegal. He’s come back, fit, sharp and hit the ground running.

“He started against Leicester on the right-hand side, didn’t affect in terms of going forward, he was still a threat. His willingness to track back, work for the team. I think he is actually the best at doing that out of the wider players.

“Running in behind [for the goal], was he ever going to miss? That’s his eighth goal in 11 games. Tremendous numbers. Without him, Liverpool wouldn’t have one. You can tell what Jurgen Klopp thinks of him. He has been absolutely sensational.”

It could be argued that Mane is Liverpool’s most important player at this moment in time, but the likes of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk will have something to say about that.

Either way, they have a plethora of attacking and defensive talent who they can rely on, as they now currently sit eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Man City can close that gap when they host Wolves on Sunday, but whatever happens, Klopp’s side will be going into the international break with a five-point lead.