#2 Sadio Mane – Liverpool
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Sadio Mane can consider himself pretty unlucky to miss out on a PFA Players’ Player of the Year nomination after a terrific debut season at Liverpool. He was signed from Southampton in the summer to provide pace, directness and goals for Jurgen Klopp’s side and he did exactly that.
He has scored 13 goals and assisted five more in his best season so far in the league and is a part of Liverpool’s exciting attacking trio alongside Brazilians Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho.
Mane’s importance was underlined in January when his absence from the Reds side due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations led to a complete derailment of their title challenge. After coming back, he continued his superb form to help Liverpool stay on course for a top four finish before an injury in the Merseyside Derby brought his season to a premature end.
His omission is definitely glaring, especially after Arsenal legend Thierry Henry told Sky Sports recently, “I'll have to give Ibrahimovic a lot of credit, but Sadio Mane has been the player of the season for me. Mane is a hell of a player. He brings something different to Liverpool -- but not only to Liverpool, to the Premier League. He's been a star this year."
