{"id":1084787,"date":"2019-04-17T22:21:19","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T21:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1084787"},"modified":"2019-04-18T11:33:41","modified_gmt":"2019-04-18T10:33:41","slug":"mane-liverpool-europe-history","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/mane-liverpool-europe-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool’s conqueror of Europe makes history to confirm semi-final against Barcelona"},"content":{"rendered":"

For large swaths of last season, he was the forgotten man in Liverpool’s irresistible front three, but Sadio Mane is all anyone is now talking about.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And for good reason. With the men in red fighting on two fronts, one of which being their quest to end a 29-year championship drought at home, the Senegalese forward has been Mr. Dependable.<\/p>\n

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SEE MORE images of Liverpool’s 2019\/20 kit HERE <\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

If anyone was going to see them progress into the Champions League semi-finals – and face Barcelona – at the expense of Porto – albeit having taken a commanding 2-0 lead into the second leg in Portugal – the chances were, it seemed, that Liverpool’s ‘number 10’ would be that man.<\/p>\n

He did not disappoint, as the Premier League leaders ran out comfortable 1-4 winners, and in the process created a piece of history.<\/p>\n

First again<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Going back to his recent importance for Jurgen Klopp’s side ex-Red defender Jamie Carragher, on a recent episode of Monday Night Football described Mane as the club’s best winger since John Barnes as well as suggesting if they had a player of his ilk during the 2008\/09 season \u2013 when they fell short to Manchester United in the Premier League title race \u2013 Rafael Benitez’s men would have ended Liverpool’s long wait to be England’s number one team.<\/p>\n

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? – @LFC<\/a>'s most important player?<\/p>\n

He's the top scorer in the @premierleague<\/a> (excluding penalties) and @Carra23<\/a> says Sadio Man\u00e9 is the best wide player the club have had since John Barnes. ??<\/p>\n

Join tonight's #MNF<\/a> live on Sky Sports PL now or follow: https:\/\/t.co\/Bi5MEwVIet<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/aXDuH4Lcay<\/a><\/p>\n

— Sky Sports Retro (@SkySportsRetro) April 15, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n