Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Salah's admission about Mane after furious on-pitch clash summed up relationship

mirror.co.uk, 24 June 2022, 17:10
Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah will go down as two of the greatest players to ever represent Liverpool - but the relationship between the pair has long been scrutinised

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have already sealed their status as bona fide Liverpool legends - but as the latter leaves for Bayern Munich, it is time to reflect on the pair's relationship.

Together, the dynamic attacking duo helped fire the Reds to the most illustrious chapter of their modern history having won every single major honour possible at Anfield. Alongside Roberto Firmino, Salah and Mane even ended the club's three-decade long wait for an elusive league title.

Despite their shared incredible achievements, there have long been lingering question marks over whether the two of them actually got on off the pitch. In fact, there have been times when they weren't exactly fond of each other on it - an away game against Burnley springs to mind.

Back in September 2019, Mane could barely contain his anger when Salah opted against passing to him when he would have had an easy tap-in had he received the ball. Instead, the Egyptian had a go himself and the chance came to nothing.

Just minutes later, Mane was hauled off by manager Jurgen Klopp and had to be calmed down by teammates Firmino and James Milner, such was the level of fury the former Reds number 10. Come full-time, the entirety of the post-match discourse was dominated by Mane's touchline tantrum.

Salah later opened up on the incident to Egyptian broadcaster MBC Masr TV and insisted there was no feud between the two. "We are team-mates on the pitch and in the dressing room, we have a very professional relationship," said the forward.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Liverpool struggle without Mane next season? Comment below

"We both give everything we have to help the team win. Maybe we're competing to show who is the best, and this is normal in any team and a legitimate right for any player, but in the end, we serve the team."

Salah did go on to concede that both Mane and himself occasionally display "selfish" tendencies, but insisted the ultimate goal is always team success.

He added: "Sometimes we're selfish in some plays, but no one puts their interest above the team. It's not intentional, whether from me or him, perhaps there was some tension in a previous match and now everyone tries to associate everything with it."

In other instances, two starting forwards would not be able to restore relations after such a high-profile on-pitch bust-up. That's where Mane and Salah differ - though donning the same shirt, the pair seemed to be on a mission to out-do each other in a way that produced only positive results for the Reds.

Their complex relationship and desire to go one better than the other inspired form opposition defences simply could not deal with. At times, it felt other sides were a secondary thought - these two were pushing each other to achieve the kind of greatness few Liverpool forwards have achieved in recent history.

All good things come to an end and after one Premier League title, one FA Cup, one Carabao Cup, one Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup and a FIFA Club World Cup - their shared Anfield reign is over. Salah put it best in his goodbye message to Mane when he simply wrote: "It's been quite a ride!"

Show more

Top News

23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are said to be locked in a battle for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato with the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly decided to target Stuttgart midfielder Enzo Millot in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Peru can leapfrog Venezuela for eighth in CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying on Tuesday when they travel to Estadio Monumental de Maturin on matchday 14. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly reluctant to extend Diogo Jota's deal at Anfield and are said to be growing increasingly frustrated by the forward. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo has told Rasmus Hojlund he aims to celebrate in front of the Denmark striker in Sunday's crunch Nations League tie. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has received a boost as Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha's ban has been extended to four games, meaning he will miss his side's next two fixtures. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Everton Women star Rikke Madsen won't forget her team's 3-0 win over Crystal Palace any time soon. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo is the most lethal goalscorer in history - but Lionel Messi edges him in the never-ending 'greatest of all time' debate. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool may have one hand firmly on the Premier League trophy, but more recent matches have shown that the Reds board cannot rest on their laurels during the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk After a disappointing start to World Cup qualifying, Romania will look to get their campaign up and running when they visit Serravalle to face minnows San Marino on Monday night. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two nations who made the perfect start to World Cup qualifying meet in Zenica on Monday night when Bosnia-Herzegovina host Cyprus. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly among three Premier League teams to have taken an interest in signing Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney this summer. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly received a significant boost in their efforts to sign Rayan Cherki, whom Lyon have decided to sell in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has reportedly made a final decision on whether he plans to re-integrate Marcus Rashford into his squad this summer. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Manchester United have been told to seek wisdom from darts sensation Luke Littler over how to handle high-pressure situations. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Peter Crouch has scored his first goals for Liverpool in nearly 17 years and he made sure to celebrate accordingly. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's reported capacity to purchase a new striker in the summer transfer window is in excess of £100m due to their good financial health. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Newcastle United will have a special Carabao Cup trophy parade next weekend after ending 70 years of hurt. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Newcastle United will finally get their trophy-winning party in front the Toon Army. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are set to be active during this summer's transfer window, as the recently-appointed Ruben Amorim looks to bring in players capable of thriving in his 3-4-3 system. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate reportedly has no release clause in his current contract amidst interest from Real Madrid in his signature. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are facing a centre-back crisis for their La Liga match against Osasuna next week, with Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen potentially all missing the rescheduled fixture. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Another consolation silver medal is waiting for Arsenal at the 2024-25 Premier League finish line, as Mikel Arteta and co bemoan injuries, suspensions and fatal - yet avoidable - transfer mistakes. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly begun initial talks with Napoli over the possible transfer of Rasmus Hojlund to the Serie A club in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are expected to move for at least one central midfielder during this summer's transfer window. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Twelve years may have passed, but Franck Ribery is still not over his 2013 Ballon d'Or snub. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Chelsea are not familiar with quiet summer transfer windows and as it stands, there's no sign of bucking the trend in 2025. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Walsall boss Mat Sadler claimed the decision not to request a postponement this afternoon was 'out of' the club's hands. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona would reportedly be willing to let Raphinha leave during this summer's transfer window if an offer of €120m (£101m) were to arrive, with Manchester United said to be keen to sign the attacker. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Suggestions that Liverpool's season would be disappointing if they only win the Premier League title are ludicrous, Reds expert David Lynch has argued.