‘Wonderful’: BBC Sport pundit tips Liverpool FC star to win PFA award

Sadio Mane (Photo: New Balance)

Liverpool FC forward Sadio Mane is fast becoming the favourite to win the PFA player of the year award, according to BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks.

The Senegal international broke the deadlock in Liverpool FC’s 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

Liverpool FC managed to secure three points after Roberto Firmino restored their lead in the 85th minute after Wilfried Zaha’s equaliser three minutes earlier.

Mane has scored eight times and has made two assists in 13 games in the Premier League this season to help Liverpool FC build their lead at the top of the table.

The 27-year-old finished as the Premier League’s joint top goal-scorer last season alongside his Reds team-mate Mohamed Salah and Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Former Spurs forward Crooks heaped praise on Mane for his excellent display in Liverpool FC’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday evening.

“Sadio Mane is fast becoming my favourite to win the PFA Player of the Year award. His performances so far this season have been wonderful,” Crooks told BBC Sport.

“Against Crystal Palace he was, once again, Liverpool’s biggest threat. He refuses to give any defence a moment’s rest.

“That said, the Senegal international might have had a hat-trick in a game that could have finished 3-3. Instead, Liverpool tightened their grip on that elusive Premier League title – and much of that is down to Mane.”

Mane was part of the Liverpool FC team that won the Champions League title last season thanks to a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Madrid final.

The African forward moved to Liverpool FC in a £30m deal from Southampton in the 2016 summer transfer window.

Mane has scored 71 times in 141 games in all competitions for Liverpool FC over the past three-and-a-half seasons.

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