The Senegalese impressed on his Liverpool bow this afternoon.
Liverpool edged out Arsenal 4-3 in a classic Premier League opener at the Emirates Stadium this evening.
Theo Walcott opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, minutes after missing a penalty, but a superb 35-yard free kick from Philippe Coutinho on the stroke of half time saw Liverpool ensure parity at the break.
Two more goals from Adam Lallana and Coutinho early in the second period flipped the match on its head, before Sadio Mane, a £34 million signing from Southampton, made it 4-1 to the Reds with a ridiculous goal.
The jet-heeled forward cut inside Nacho Monreal and Calum Chambers on Liverpool’s right-hand side, before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed drive past Petr Cech into the top corner.
It was a perfect way to announce himself to Liverpool fans, many of whom reacted with glee to his debut in North London.
Liverpool’s Sadio Mane warms up before the match
Arsenal threw themselves a lifeline when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Chambers reduced the arrears, but Arsene Wenger’s side failed in their bid to find that elusive equaliser – despite having 15 minutes in which to do so.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
