Houllier: Shy guy Mane is hot stuff

ED AND SHOULDERS: Man City’s Brazil ace Ederson IMPRESSED: Houllier LIVERPOOL can thank former manager Gerard Houllier for putting a timid Sadio Mane on the road to Anfield fame and possible legendary status.

The Senegal star, 26, has developed into the main man as Jurgen Klopp’s side edge closer to the club’s first title since 1990.

Last season’s star Mo Salah, 26, has not scored in seven games and has struggled to replicate the stunning form which propelled Liverpool into the Champions League Final last May.

Meanwhile Roberto Firmino, 27, hasn’t always made his usual impact.

So it’s been left to Mane to lead the charge.

His 11 goals in his last

11 appearances – seven in the last five – have ensured progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the pressure being maintained on Manchester City in the league.

It’s a far cry from 2012 when Mane was trying to make his mark with a Metz side battling against relegation from Ligue 1 in France.

But he still managed to catch the eye of Houllier, who had moved on to Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg charged with discovering new talent.

The former Liverpool boss said: “What I liked straight away was his speed and ability on the ball. It was fantastic for a boy of his age.

“Salzburg agreed to buy him and we paid

£4million. The potential was there and we just had to make sure he was well looked after.

“When I was at Liverpool I introduced a player liaison scheme where foreign players would be helped to settle into a completely new and strange environment.

“We did the same at Salzburg and Sadio joined a French-speaking family.”

The youngster quickly felt at home and was also comfortable on the pitch where he attracted the attention of German giants Bayern Munich.

But it was Southampton who made the decisive move with an £11.5m bid.

Houllier said: “He’s an ideal player for Liverpool. He has matured into one of the finest forwards in Europe. You can compare his speed on the ball with Kylian Mbappe.

“I know other big clubs in Europe would love him but he is with one of the biggest clubs now in Liverpool.”