Heartache can lead us to the title
SADIO MANE admits Liverpool’s title charge is being driven by the mental torture of last season’s near miss.
The Reds lost only once last term yet still suffered the heartache of seeing Manchester City pip them to top spot by just a point.
And Mane says those bitter memories are all the motivation Jurgen Klopp’s men need to go one better this season and end their 30-year wait for the title.
Unbeaten Liverpool are currently steamrollering their way to the title and Mane said: “There are so many games, but it’s not about physical tiredness.
“You have to keep trying to be mentally sharp. If you lose the league that hurts you in the head mentally, so we always focus on the same target – to win something.
“We have learned from the mistake last year. That was a tough time for us and we’ve learned a lot from it.
“We’re better this season than last year in what we’re trying to do. It’s another adventure for us. Let’s keep working and try to keep things at the same level. Take it game by game.
“You have to sacrifice yourself at this moment when you are in our situation. You have to deal with it and keep going.
“We are all working hard every minute of the day to get better and better.”
Liverpool’s crushing 4-0 win at Leicester on Boxing Day was a show of strength.
But Klopp’s European and World champions are refusing to get carried away ahead of tomorrow’s visit of plucky Wolves.
Skipper Virgil van Dijk rated the Leicester win as their most complete of the season but the towering stopper won’t entertain any title talk – at least not yet.
The former Celtic ace said: “You guys have to talk about it.
“You do the talking and we will focus on the game ahead of us.
“We can’t say too much about it, we’ll give the same answers every time.
“It’s all about trying to win the game ahead of us, and if we don’t, we’ll try with the next one. But we are feeling good and we have to keep going.
“We want clean sheets, because we all know if we get one then we stand a very good chance of winning the game.
“With the quality we had up front there’s always going to be a moment when we are creating a chance.
“Leicester might be one of the best performances so far. It was a complete performance from start to finish.”