THIS IS A MANE’S WORLD

Salah and Coutinho are making headlines but Wijnaldum reckons Senegal star is up there with the best on the planet Coutinho Mane Salah* Apps 39 36 46 Starts Mins Goals 36 2907 17 34 2846 17 42 3611 27 Mins/goal 171.0 167.4 133.7 Assists 11 8 14 Chances Cr

CONSIDER the legendary names that have contested the Mersey derby, and then consider this.

No one – not Dixie Dean, not Billy Liddell, not Kenny Dalglish, not Alex Young – has scored a goal in each of their first three appearances in one of the most intense local rivalries in world football.

Yet Sadio Mane can do so tomorrow. That is perhaps the clearest indication of not only the Liverpool forward’s quality, but the fear factor he brings to the game’s most historic fixture, the most often contested derby in world football since that first meeting in 1894.

With even Everton boss Sam Allardyce conceding the Reds attack is the best in the country, the focus inevitably has been on Premier League top scorer Mohamed Salah and midweek hat-trick hero Philippe Coutinho.

Both have been linked with Spain in recent weeks. Barca are clearly gearing up for another bid for Coutinho next month, while the talk in Egypt has been of Salah’s next step being in the direction of Madrid.

Yet while they have obvious quality, that x-factor on their day, it is Mane who has produced most consistently for Liverpool in the past year – making him Jurgen Klopp’s most potent weapon, and a genuine world-class talent.

Who thinks so? Well his team-mates for a start. According to Gini Wijnaldum, the Senegal striker is edging ever closer to joining the likes of Ronaldo and Messi at the summit of the world game.

“It’s normal people would say he’s one of the best in the world now,” said the Dutchman (left). “He’s delivered consistently for a long time at Liverpool. I don’t have to say about his quality – everyone can see it now.

“If you show consistency and perform week in, week out then you’re one of the best. If you analyse the season so far you would say he is doing that.

“Of course you will have a bad game but the best players in the world have bad games.”

Mane announced his presence in the derby with an injury-time winner at Goodison a year ago, and followed that with the opening goal in a victory at Anfield in April.

Few would bet against him making history tomorrow.

Klopp certainly would not. He is the first Liverpool boss to win his first three derbies, but he sees the quality of his front line only too well – and quietly points to them having taken a step towards that world-class level at Anfield.

There is an irony that it is the German coach who has helped them improve, while having to endure attempts by the likes of Barcelona to steal them away.

But he believes his men will realise deep down what is best for them. “I’m pretty sure the