It was a goal that encapsulated Sadio Mane’s all-round ability.
Norwich City, away, February 15, 2020. Liverpool’s first Premier League match after an international break and an opportunity to move a step closer to the coveted title.
With 77 minutes gone at Carrow Road, however, the game remains a stalemate.
Until, that is, a lofted pass from Jordan Henderson into the Norwich penalty area affords Mane, recently on as a substitute, the merest sniff of a chance to trouble the scoresheet.
A goal initially seems unlikely, with the Senegalese trapped between two Canaries defenders, back to the net. But his deft touch not only controls the ball out of the air, but nudges it into a shooting position.
Still, there’s work to do.
As Mane spins his body to realign himself with the ball, he produces a thumped finish off his left foot into the gap between the goalkeeper and the near post.
