Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Georginio Wijnaldum: Liverpool do not need Sadio Mane
GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM has claimed Liverpool do no rely on Sadio Mane to win games.
Georginio Wijnaldum has claimed Liverpool do not need Sadio Mane to win
Liverpool have slipped off the pace in the Premier League in recent weeks, enduring a five-game winless streak.
The Reds' dip in form coincided with Sadio Mane leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.
But since his return to the starting XI, Mane has made the difference for Liverpool and he scored twice in the 2-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday.
Sadio Mane scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Tottenham
Sadio Mane sets up Senegal teammate with perfect backheel
However, team-mate Georginio Wijnaldum has dismissed claims that the Reds are reliant on Mane to win games.
"He is really important but it is too much Sadio Mane now," Wijnaldum said.
"He scored two goals but also I think it has been about him because we had poor results without Sadio.
"Before he left for Africa we had good results, only against Sunderland [2-2 draw] we did not have a good result.
"Last week we lost with Sadio Mane. I don't think it is fair to the other players to say 'because of Sadio Mane we win'.
"Of course he is a great player - he helps us with his speed and he scores goals - but I think it is more about the team than only Sadio Mane.
"It is normal if you have poor results without Sadio everyone will say 'Sadio Mane'.
"If it was another player like when Phil [Philippe Coutinho] was injured, if we had poor results then everyone would have said 'Philippe Coutinho'."
Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?