Salah-Mane now comparable with Ronaldo-Bale and Robben-Ribery

The African pair, who both made the 2019 Goal 50 top five, have played a pivotal role in Liverpool establishing themselves as the best side in Europe
“No.5? Nice!”

Sadio Mane is smiling as he is presented with his memento. 

Footballers always tell you they don’t really care for individual awards, but don’t believe them. Deep down, they love the recognition.

“Next year No.1, yes?” grins Mane, posing for pictures with his prize for finishing fifth on the Goal 50 list for 2019.

Mohamed Salah, his Liverpool team-mate, is absent on the day. We are told the Egyptian is on a different training schedule due to an ongoing ankle issue. Salah, for the second year running, has finished third in the list, behind only Lionel Messi and, of course, team-mate Virgil van Dijk. 
 

Liverpool’s fingerprints, naturally, are all over the list, with Van Dijk in top spot and six other Reds in the men’s top 25. Goal are at Melwood to present awards not only to Mane and Van Dijk, but to Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker and Roberto Firmino, too.

Yes, the European champions have certainly made their presence felt over the last 12 months, establishing themselves as perhaps the best club side on the planet – a position they can confirm at the FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar next month.

Individually, the accolades are stacking up. Van Dijk is indisputably the world’s best defender, Alisson the best goalkeeper. Right now, Robertson and Alexander-Arnold are peerless as full-backs, while there are not many centre-forwards who give a team what Firmino does.

Which leaves Mane and Salah. 





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