Sadio Mane equals Cristiano Ronaldo's record as the Liverpool star reacts to a goal against Benfica.
Sadio Mane is a known big-game performer for Liverpool and Senegal, and his goal against Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday night put him in exclusive company.With his goal against Benfica on Tuesday night, Sadio Mane equaled Cristiano Ronaldo's Champions League record.
The Senegal forward netted a tap-in after Luis Diaz set him up beautifully in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon, giving the Reds a 2-0 lead. Just after the break, Darwin Nunez gave Portugal a lifeline, but Liverpool escaped the danger as Luis Diaz regained their two-goal lead near the end.
Mane was one among the standout players on the night, putting the Merseyside club in pole position to reach the semi-final. The winger is a known big-game player, as evidenced by his recent performance for Senegal, in which he netted the game-winning penalty against Egypt to send his team to the AFCON final,as well as bringing his country to the World Cup with yet another critical penalty kick, this time against Mohamed Salah and co.That story continues at club level, as his goal tonight was his 13th in the Champions League knockout stages during the 2017/18 season, a feat only Cristiano Ronaldo has matched.
He told BT Sport about his ambition: "Winning is more important, as I always say. I'm pleased to have scored the goal, but I'm even more pleased that the team scored three goals and that we are now prepared for the upcoming game."
Liverpool will face Manchester City in a match that might decide the Premier League title battle. Mane was named in the starting XI in place of Diogo Jota, who was replaced by Luis Diaz.When asked about the improvements Klopp plans to make at the Etihad, he stated: "You'll have to inquire with the boss! We're Liverpool, and we've got a big squad. We occasionally make changes that benefit the entire team. Yes, but it's an excellent start. We can't hope for anything more. Now we're getting ready for the next game."Owen believes Klopp was simply rotating his squad, and that Jota will start against City on Sunday. He stated, " "Jota was in the last game, and I believe he will be in the next one, so he'll be alongside Diaz tonight.
"It's probably simple to leave Jota out of tonight's festivities. Diaz did not participate in the last game, so you must play him. Mo Salah simply plays all the games, and he will be displeased if he is dropped."
Salah is expected to start alongside Jota at the Etihad, with Roberto Firmino, David Diaz, and Sadio Mane vying for the final slot in Liverpool's front three. He continued, " "I believe Mo Salah will also play on Sunday, and Jota appears to be in good form."I think Mo Salah will play on Sunday as well, and Jota looks like he'll play as well, so it'll be a battle for the third spot," he added."For tonight, this team is still quite powerful. Their opponents will be thinking 'oh no' as they look at the team sheet. That club has a number of heavy hitters."
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