MX23RW : Monday, March 18 14:29:28

Mane deserves place in Premier League elite - Wijnaldum

Mane deserves place in Premier League elite - Wijnaldum
© Reuters
The Senegal international scored his 18th and 19th goals of the season.

Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum believes team-mate Sadio Mane deserves to be in the same bracket as the Premier League's top strikers.

The Senegal international scored his 18th and 19th goals of the season in the 3-1 win over Bayern Munich which put the Reds into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

That tally puts him only one behind Mohamed Salah. In terms of Premier League goals the diminuitive forward, who plays out wide and not through the middle, has 16 in 29 matches – just two behind leading scorer Sergio Aguero.

Mane has 10 goals in as many games in all competitions – including three doubles – and is enjoying his best goalscoring return in his five seasons in English football.

And that is why he has to be mentioned alongside the City striker and his in-form team-mate Raheem Sterling, Tottenham's Harry Kane, and Salah.

"He is really good. The games tell you that, he is really important with his goals and assists. A good season, his best with us," said the Holland international.

"They (media) do not speak about him? I think the other players have shown they get the headlines but Sadio also.

"He has had a big influence on winning games. Mo did not score (against Bayern) but had a good game.

"People speak about the player who had two goals. A lot of players do the work and make the difference.

"You have to speak about everyone. For me, Sadio is up there with those players you named."

Wijnaldum is the most senior, established player yet to be rewarded with a new contract after the likes of Salah, Mane, Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Jordan Henderson all got new deals in the last 12 months.

However, with the club still fighting on two fronts it is an issue the Dutchman, who still has more than two years remaining, is not concerned about.

Especially as a new contract will, in all probability, most be sorted over the summer ahead of next season.

"No. I did not speak with the club yet," he said.

"(Is it) a problem between me and the club? I am not a person who has problems. That (contract) is something for the club. I will see what happens.

"I signed a five-year contract (in the summer of 2017) and I am still under contract.

"I just do my job to perform. A new contract has to come from the club."


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Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring for Juventus against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on March 12, 2019.
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool31237170185276
2Manchester CityMan City30242479215874
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs30201957322561
4Arsenal30186663392460
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd30177658401858
6Chelsea30176750331757
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves30128103836244
8Watford30127114244-243
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham31126134146-542
10Leicester CityLeicester31125144043-341
11Everton31117134342140
12Bournemouth31115154356-1338
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3198143140-935
14Crystal Palace3096153641-533
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2996143242-1033
16Southampton3079143450-1630
17Burnley3186173559-2430
18Cardiff CityCardiff3084182757-3028
19Fulham3145222970-4117
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield3135231857-3914

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