A FAIR KOP
No arguments as Reds bash Barca in front of 90,000 at Wembley
KOP FANS reckon they have got the main Man-e leading their attack.
On the day they packed out Wembley to salute former Anfield idol and strike sensation Luis Suarez, Liverpool punters ended up with a new hero in the shape of summer signing Sadio Mane.
The £30million capture from Southampton scored a brilliant first-half goal to stun the Spanish champions.
And the electric Senegalese striker then set up Liverpool’s second, bundled home by former Kop star Javier Mascherano moments after half- time as Jurgen Klopp’s stars dished out a rare beating to mighty Barca.
Klopp said: “It was a friendly and I don’t want to overestimate it. Our only job was to play football as well as possible and we did that.
“Barcelona are never a bad team. We just did very well around the goals and had a bit of luck.
“For us it was more of an important game because 90,000 fans were here for my team so it was clear we were more motivated even though it was a friendly game.”
L iverpool have been overlooked in the title odds with Manchester club’s United and City capturing the headlines with their summer signings.
But this was some title statement by a Liverpool side who looked as dangerous as they did in 2014 when Suarez led the line and they narrowly missed out on their first League crown in more than two decades.
Belgian striker Divock Origi aided and abetted Mane with a fabulous third goal as Liverpool ran riot to Klopp’s delight.
But it was Mane who announced himself as a star who can make the difference up front for Liverpool once the season starts.
Despite reaching two cup finals, Klopp never found the right attacking mix last season even though he had no shortage of fire-power in Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino, Christian Benteke, and Origi in the ranks.
Last night though, live-wire Mane – who scored 15 goals for the Saints last season– showed he’ll be a real handful for the Reds with a display way too hot for Barcelona’s sluggish defence. Barcelona aren’t often outplayed, especially at Wembley which has been their play-ground in the past with their 2011 Champions League win over Manchester United a stand-out moment. But for the first 25 minutes and the opening spell of the second half the Catalans were given a chasing by a Liverpool side full of hunger with the new season just a week away. Barca coach Luis Enrique looked like he’d just come from the pub in t-shirt, scruffy jeans and trainers. And so too did his team despite Lionel Messi, Suarez, Mascherano, and Sergio Busquets in the starting line-up. Having already cuffed Premier League champions Leicester City 4-2 in Stockholm and Celtic 3- 1 in Dublin the Spaniard’s were out for a hat-trick of British scalps.
But that notion was smashed from the outset as Mane put the skids under Barcelona.
With 14 minutes on the clock he rounded off a clever move involving Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino, to wallop home a tasty finish.
Liverpool blitzed Barcelona after the re-satart with two goals in a minute.
First, Mane crossed into the box for Mascherano to divert into his own goal.
Then, Kevin Stewar t dispossesed Busquets and Origi ran in to fire past Ter Stegen.
New signing Marko Grujic, only 20, made it a day to remember with a superb looping header for Liverpool’s fourth.
Klopp added: “We shall fight for everything this season. We need to be ready.”
Watch out Premier League!