Sadio Mane struck a last-gasp winner to hand Liverpool the bragging rights in a 1-0 victory for Liverpool over Everton in the Merseyside derby last night at Goodison Park.
Senegal attacker Mane pounced in the fourth minute of added time to score after substitute Daniel Sturridge hit a shot that rebounded off the post. It was Mane’s eighth Premier League goal of the season in Merseyside derby No 227.
It gave Jurgen Klopp’s men three vital points in the race at the top of the Premier League and also handed delirious Reds fans a pre-Christmas present of victory over their city rivals.
Liverpool now have a fantastic opportunity to build on the win the they face two home games on the spin: first they host Stoke City at Anfield at tea-time on December 27; then they welcome Manchester City, behind them in third spot in the league table, on New Year’s Eve, with a 17.30 kick-off.
So how did Mane reflect on the game and the triumph, and his goal?
He said:
“I was a little bit lucky but I wish to always be lucky and score goals for the team. I’m thankful and very happy to score the winning goal for the team.”
“It wasn’t an easy game but I think we deserved to win because we created a lot of chances and we got the goal. We were facing a very good team and we had to keep going to the end. But that’s what we did and got the win.”
Asked if the win gave him more satisfaction than the 4-0 victory in his first derby encounter, manager Klopp said:
“I don’t want to compare, I loved both actually!”
“Of course the first derby at Anfield was different but I would actually prefer tonight because nobody is injured after the game. Better 1-0 and all players fit than 4-0 and one player out for the next I don’t know how long it was – too long.”
