Liverpool and England football team right back, Nathaniel Clyne has revealed that Senegalese footballer Sadio Mane is the fastest player in the Liverpool squad. Mane was recently included in the Goal 50 best footballers of the world list and Clyne believes that the speedy winger has all the abilities to help Liverpool win major honours in the future.
Sadio Mane was brought in by Jurgen Klopp in the summer transfer window for £32 million pounds from Southampton. The 24-year old has been more than impressive for the Reds this season, having already scored six goals in 11 games for the club in the Premier League.
Clyne is also one among many footballers Liverpool have signed in the last couple of seasons and admits that even his pace is nowhere close the Senegal international and that he doesn't stand a chance against him in a straight race.
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"Me and him in a race? That would be tough and a close one," Clyne told Goal.
"I have to say, he is faster, definitely when he is on the ball anyway. The top three are Sadio, then me and then Alberto (Moreno)."
Mane was adjudged by Goal as the 39th best footballer in the world on Tuesday as part of their annual list. The winger was spectacular for Southampton in his two-year stint at the club, having scored 21 goals in 67 appearances for the club. Mane’s goal scoring abilities and breathtaking pace prompted Klopp to sign the player for Liverpool in the summer.
"He is quality, he always wants the ball," Clyne explained.
"You can see when he gets the ball that he is always looking forward and his first intention is to get at the defense and cause problems. You can see that he has done that.”
Clyne also believes that Mane is a key player for Liverpool football club and has nothing but praise for the kind of positive impact he had on the team.
"He has been great, he has provided assists, and he has scored goals. He is on fire at the moment. There’s so much quality around the squad, you look around the dressing room at the players we have got, and we have so much ability.”
The 25-year-old Liverpool right-back feels that Liverpool is heading in the right direction with almost all of their players performing collectively and also scoring goals regularly.
"We are getting goals from all over the pitch and even Milner is scoring – despite playing at left back! It is a joy to watch Phil Coutinho, Mane, Sturridge, Lallana, and Firmino. They are all playing well, and it is going well."
Liverpool are currently on top of the English Premier League after their 6-1 demolition of Watford at Anfield last week.