After finding the net 11 times in each of his two seasons at Southampton, Sadio Mane was finally acquired by long-term suitor Jurgen Klopp last summer.
Snapped up by the Liverpool manager for around £36m, the Senegal international was quick to make an impact across the Fantasy games, netting in the season opener at Arsenal as the battle for our attentions in the Reds’ midfield intensified.
Limited to just 27 appearances due to Africa Cup of Nations duties and a season-ending knee injury, Mane only claimed thirteenth spot among FPL midfielders on 156 points, yet still finished as his side’s joint-top scorer along with Philippe Coutinho on 13 goals.
Expected to be fit for the start of the upcoming campaign, the former Saints’ cutting edge may well give him the advantage over his midfield team-mates as the Merseysiders’ likeliest source of attacking returns in 2017/18 – even in the light of the impending arrival of Mohamed Salah.
Key Factors
- Unleashed from the right of Klopp’s three-man frontline, Mane flourished as a Fantasy option in a midfield that offered strong competition from the likes of Coutinho and Roberto Firmino. His average of 5.8 points per match was more than any team-mate and placed fifth among regular FPL midfielders. Bearing in mind that he served up 4.3 ppm and 4.6 ppm over his two years at St Mary’s, it’s clear that the move to Merseyside has benefitted Mane’s FPL appeal.
- The Opta numbers also highlight Mane’s upturn at Anfield. An average of 172.3 minutes per goal was fifth quickest among FPL midfielders in the top-flight last term and bettered his tallies of 194.1 and 236.7 in those two seasons with the Saints. A goal conversion rate of 22.8% – second only to Bournemouth’s Josh King (23.9%) in midfield – is far superior to Coutinho (12.3%) and Firmino (11%) and indicates that, should the trio be similarly priced, a fit-again Mane has the platform outperform his team-mates. No Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2018 also helps.
- A reliable option for our five-man midfields, Mane never went more than two league matches without finding the net in 2016/17. Compare that with Coutinho and Firmino, whose most barren streaks were seven and six matches respectively, and it’s fair to say that, among Klopp’s main attackers, the Senegal international is far less likely to test the patience of Fantasy managers.
- Mane was particularly prolific in front of his own supporters. Despite missing five of Liverpool’s 19 Anfield fixtures, his total of nine home goals was bettered only by Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (12) among FPL midfielders. Five of Mane’s seven double-digit hauls arrived at Anfield, highlighting his armband appeal as an explosive option among Klopp’s main men.
- Klopp’s tactical tinkering could also influence our thinking. After a goalless draw against Southampton in Gameweek 36, the German rolled out a midfield diamond behind a front two, with Coutinho pulling the strings from deep. Although Liverpool are expected to mainly continue with a 4-3-3 next time out, Mane’s speed and goal-getting ability could persuade his manager to hand him a central role up top should be switch formations in order to break down obstinate opponents.
- The opening schedule looks encouraging for those keen to invest in the Merseysiders. Klopp’s men travel to Watford for the season opener and then face three home matches – against Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Burnley – in the subsequent four Gameweeks. He scored in both appearances against the Gunners’ last term, serving up 13 points in a 3-1 win at Anfield in Gameweek 27.
