Sadio Mané has a powerful new weaponry, handing Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp a huge goalscoring boost
Sadio Mané has scored more goals at Anfield this season than anyone else, including Mohamed Salah.
With five goals in seven appearances (six starts) this season, the Senegalese forward has had an extremely fruitful campaign in front of the club’s home fans.
Mané could have made it six starts and six goals on home soil if it hadn’t been for a Reece James handball on the line against Chelsea.
Nonetheless, the winger’s impressive goal-scoring form has been a major positive for Liverpool’s start to the season and is indicative of a promising pattern of improvement.
Mané scored eight goals in 24 games across all competitions last season. This season, he has already accomplished that feat in ten fewer games, scoring eight goals in 14 appearances.
This season, Mané has a distinct and well-defined appearance.
According to Wyscout, he is still taking roughly the same number of shots per 90 (only 0.33 per 90 more this season) and the same number of touches in the box (only 0.02 more touches per 90 this season).
His shot on target percentage has only increased by 4.4%, but the key difference is the quality of chances he is getting and how he is converting them into goals.
According to Wyscout, Mané’s average per 90 xG this season is 0.51, and he is outperforming that xG by 0.15, averaging 0.66 goals per 90.
Mané’s per 90 average was slightly lower last season, at 0.43 per 90, and he underperformed it by 0.10, averaging only 0.33 goals per 90 in the Champions League and Premier League.
Early indications point to a significant improvement in Mané’s ability to not only finish chances, but also to position himself in the right situations in front of goal and create better scoring chances for himself.
Last season, the Senegalese international may have slowed a little. He’s averaging 0.50 fewer progressive runs per 90 and 2.02 fewer dribbles per 90, but he’s clearly compensating by being more productive in front of the basket.
Of course, there is still a long way to go, but at this rate, it is not just Mohamed Salah who could have a career-best season.
Sadio Mané is also on track for his best individual season in terms of goals per 90 minutes, providing Jürgen Klopp with a new and improved attacking weapon as well as a much-needed boost.
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Sadio Mané has a powerful new weaponry, handing Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp a huge goalscoring boost
