LONDON • The heat is on for the English Premier League title race and, with champions Manchester City hot on their heels, the next four months will be a stern test of Liverpool's mental fortitude.
But Reds forward Sadio Mane believes his team can cope with the pressure and step up a gear in the run-in to deliver a first league title since 1990.
"We heard what some of the media were saying about us not starting off by playing as fast and exciting as last year, and we felt we weren't at our best ourselves at times," Mane told World Soccer.
"The results have been there, but we know we could have done more with some of our performances.
"We are very competitive, but know there is even more to come, for sure. In many ways, the team is stronger and we have produced some very mature performances.
"Hopefully we will hit our top form when it matters most."
Jurgen Klopp's league leaders, who host Leicester at Anfield today, have a four-point cushion over City but their lead could be cut to a solitary point by the time they kick off, as Pep Guardiola's men faced Newcastle 24 hours earlier.
Defender Virgil van Dijk is a doubt owing to illness. The Dutchman has not trained fully since returning from the club's warm-weather training camp in Dubai.
Senegal international Mane is determined to hold off City and create history for the Merseyside club.
He added: "I can't wait to lift a trophy with Liverpool. I know the fans are desperate for us to win the Premier League.
"It would be an amazing moment for the club. It has been far too long for a team the size of Liverpool.
"We believe we are heading in the right direction, but there are some very tough rivals - City were unbelievable last season and very strong again - but why not?"
The front three of Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah scored a combined 91 goals for Liverpool last season.
The trio were all on target during the frenetic 4-3 victory over Crystal Palace on Jan 19, with Mane's stoppage-time effort ultimately proving to be the winner at Anfield.
And the 26-year-old is confident the trio's telepathic partnership will produce more goals in the title run-in. He said: "I think it just happened naturally. When you have players like Bobby and Mo, they just make everything easier.
"We just seem to instinctively know each other's movement and I think you can see that we enjoy playing together. We want to get even better and score even more goals. Our best is still to come."
Mane was one of eight Liverpool players - including Salah, Firmino, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold - to sign contract extensions to 2023 or beyond in the past eight months. And he revealed that Salah and Firmino were the reasons behind his decision to commit his future to the Reds.
"All I can say is that my only concern is Liverpool. Mo, Bobby… It seemed like everyone was signing contracts and they were saying, 'Hey Sadio, when are you going to sign?'," he said. "I said to each of them, 'Don't worry bro, I will sign'. And what did I do? I signed so they are pleased now."
According to The Times, the contract renewals will cost the club as much as £200 million (S$356 million), and manager Klopp said it is key to retain his best players.
"The club gave us a fantastic opportunity to bring in outstanding players, to keep outstanding players. My job is to make sure we perform on the pitch," the German said after the raft of contract renewals.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
LIVERPOOL V LEICESTER
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, tomorrow, 4am
PSG captain Thiago Silva receives French citizenship
May 30, 2019 · Barcelona had reached the Champions League semi-final; the others had long gone. Valencia didn't get out of the group and, in the knockout rounds, Madrid fell first, their season effectively
Injury-hit Barcelona take on Valencia in Copa del Rey final
Football: 'Spineless, shameful' PSG stars face fury at
Football: Leicester welcome Rodgers with win, Newcastle end Burnley run Leicester City's Jamie Vardy (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal. PHOTO: AFP
Leicester welcome Rodgers with win, Newcastle end Burnley run
Sturridge's last appearance for Liverpool came as a late substitute during the 4-0 Champions League semi-final second-leg win over Barcelona, which saw the Reds complete a remarkable turnaround. While the next destination of the England international remains to be seen, Klopp is in no doubt of Sturridge's qualities.
Liverpool news: Klopp hails 'outstanding' Salah after
Football: Tampines Rovers sneak past Yangon United 4-3 to top
sports-life-news.com/soccer/football-tampines-rovers-sneak-past-yangon-united-4-3-to-top-afc-cup-group-f/
SINGAPORE - Tampines Rovers needed a three-goal salvo in the dying minutes in their last AFC Cup Group F match against Cambodia's Nagaworld FC to secure a 4-2 victory. On Wednesday night (May 1), the Singapore Premier League side endured another "crazy" AFC Cup game as they lost the lead twice but still ended up beating Yangon United 4
Football: Tampines Rovers sneak past Yangon United 4-3 to top
Football News. 24/7. but Spurs encountered a Barcelona side on a mission, spearheaded by their effervescent skipper who seems to be on a personal crusade to take his beloved club back to the
Messi on a mission: Barcelona are Champions League - goal.com
Fantasy Football Interview; A league winner on a mission… When one focuses on the country of Norway, they immediately may think of the beautiful fjords, or maybe the Midnight Sun, Christmas trees, trolls or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Page 4 - Top 5 footballers of 2018 - sportskeeda.com
New-look Germany make promising start with Serbia draw ahead of Euro qualifiers clash against Dutch Description: Germans kept their foot firmly on the gas and wasted several chances in the second half before substitute Leon Goretzka grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 69th minute.
New-look Germany make promising start with Serbia draw
Football: Hougang United lose two-goal lead twice to draw 3-3 with 10-man Tampines Rovers Published by: straitstimes.com | Found: 49 minutes ago Tags: Football, Tampines, Hougang, Rovers, United and 218 more Tweeted By: @stsportsdesk , @stcom Tweeted For: @@jpbutler_msm, @@ks75in
Tampines throw away two-goal advantage, Latest Singapore
Football: Albirex Niigata still aim to win trophies despite squad overhaul. Football: Despite squad overhaul, Albirex Niigata's target for new season is still to 'win all the titles'
Football: Albirex Niigata still aim to win trophies despite
Football: Guardiola hopes Champions League pain spurs on Manchester City MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Pep Guardiola wants the pain of Manchester City's gut-wrenching Champions League elimination at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur to inspire a charge for an unprecedented domestic treble.
Guardiola hopes Champions League pain spurs on Manchester
Messi notches 400 Laliga goals - straitstimes.com
Chelsea boss Sarri baffled by 6-0 humbling at Man City February 10, 2019 Chika Emeche NEWS , SPORT , WORLD 0 Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri said he could not understand what happened after Manchester City crushed his side 6-0 on Sunday — their biggest ever defeat in the Premier League.
Chelsea boss Sarri baffled by 6-0 humbling at Man City | AFP.com
Zinedine Zidane's second spell as coach of Real Madrid got underway on Wednesday as the Frenchman took his first session at the club's training ground in Valdebebas. Zidane leads first session
Zidane leads first session since return to Real Madrid | Sport24
0 comments:
Post a Comment