Sadio Mane hasn’t scored in NINE games for Liverpool but likes playing Chelsea

There was just no stopping Sadio Mane the last time Liverpool went to Stamford Bridge.

It was right at the beginning of last season, a real statement of intent from the reigning champions that they wouldn’t be surrendering their title without a fight.

Mane’s performance against Chelsea that day was absolutely outstanding, encapsulating every quality the Senegal forward has in his locker.

It was Mane brought down by an Andreas Christensen rugby tackle as he raced clear on goal, leading to the VAR-aided red card that swung the game towards Liverpool.

Then two goals in four minutes just after half-time settled it. The way Mane peeled off Reece James to meet Roberto Firmino’s cross with an athletic header was top class.

And his dedication to the cause was demonstrated by the furious pressing of Kepa Arrizabalaga that forced a botched clearance and Liverpool’s second.

How Jurgen Klopp will hope Mane can produce something similar when they head back to the Bridge on Sunday in a meeting of title contenders neither can afford to lose.

It’s inconceivable that Mane won’t feature in Klopp’s starting line-up against Chelsea. After all, this is the last opportunity he will have to play him, Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita for a few weeks because of the Africa Cup of Nations.

But there is certainly some pressure on Mane’s place amid a nine-match goal drought that has equalled his longest barren spell for Liverpool.

Mane hasn’t found the net since opening the scoring in the 4-0 win over Arsenal back on November 20 and there are signs his confidence is low.

The chance he put over the bar when through in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at Leicester, just a few minutes before Ademola Lookman settled the game, showed a player not quite in the groove.

For Klopp, Mane’s poor run couldn’t have come at a worse time. After finding the net regularly during the early part of the season – he has nine goals overall – Mane has stopped scoring during a congested and pivotal time in the campaign.

With Manchester City in imperious form, marching away at the top of the table and leaving both Liverpool and Chelsea in their wake, moments such as Mane’s miss at Leicester are crucial.

It was only Liverpool’s second defeat of the season but they suddenly find themselves 12 points behind Pep Guardiola’s side after that late win at Arsenal on New Year’s Day. 

Of course, one or both of Chelsea and Liverpool will drop points on Sunday. Liverpool retain two games in hand but the margin is already daunting.

With two principal goal threats in Mane and Salah heading off to Cameroon for the AFCON, Klopp will be concerned.

It’s all quite reminiscent of last season, when Mane also went nine games without scoring in all competitions during November and December.

In fairness, Liverpool didn’t drop too many points but it coincided with a period when City were pretty much invincible, opening up a telling gap at the top.

Back then, Mane ended his drought by scoring in a 7-0 rout of Crystal Palace that resembled a turkey shoot before sulking after being taken off for Salah on 57 minutes. Chelsea won’t be as accommodating this weekend.

But one good omen is Mane’s record against the Blues. In 18 encounters playing for Southampton and then Liverpool, he has netted seven times. Only against Palace, Arsenal and Aston Villa does he have a better record.

A repeat of last season’s result at Stamford Bridge would keep Liverpool clinging onto City’s coattails. A goal or two for Mane would serve as a huge confidence boost.

If he goes a 10th game without finding the net, then Klopp will hope he can rediscover his scoring touch out in Cameroon.

They have certainly made an effort to boost his confidence with a member of Liverpool’s video analysis team putting together a compilation of Mane highlights.

The aim was to convince Mane he is still contributing plenty to the team effort even if the finishing isn’t there at the moment. 

‘Pretty much all strikers have to go through these kind of things. It happened to Sadio before and he came out of it,’ said Klopp.  

Senegal are third-favourites behind Algeria and Egypt to lift the trophy and face Guinea, Malawi and Zimbabwe in the group. You’d be surprised if Mane doesn’t score.

If Senegal go all the way, the final is on February 6, meaning he wouldn’t return to Liverpool duty until the game against Leicester four days later.

Mane may well return with his scoring touch restored. The question is whether Liverpool will still be counted as title challengers by then.

But it isn’t too late for Mane to sign off with a valuable contribution against opponents he enjoys playing against.