There have been huge improvements in so many Liverpool players since Jurgen Klopp was appointed manager and it is the likes of Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk who steal headlines, although it is perhaps Sadio Mane who is increasingly becoming their most valuable asset.
It seems as if Liverpool play well whenever Sadio Mane plays well and the Senegalese star was on fire during the Reds' Premier League romp against Watford on Wednesday night.
Mane helped himself to a brace in the game and the win for Liverpool enhanced their remarkable record whenever Mane (aka their 'good luck charm') gets on the scoresheet.
Remarkably, Liverpool have only ever lost one Premier League game when Mane has scored. He has scored in 32 league games (notching 37 goals in total) since joining from Southampton ahead of the 2016/17 season and Liverpool have won 27 of those, while drawing four.
The Reds have gone nearly three years without defeat in a game when Sane scored. The only defeat they have suffered when Sane has scored was during their 4-3 loss at Bournemouth in April 2016. Ironically, Mane was subbed after 69 minutes of that game having laid on a goal and an assist to put the Reds 3-1 up at the time of his substitution. However, with Mane off the pitch, Liverpool contrived to concede three goals in the final 14 minutes and duly lost 4-3!
Mane's spell as 'good luck charm' extends to his time with Southampton as he scored in 16 games for the Saints (21 goals in total) and the South Coast outfit won 12, drew three and lost only once when Mane struck.
The 26-year-old has been an influential figure ever since he moved to England and he could be central to Liverpool's title hopes in the coming months. When Sane plays well, Liverpool play well - or is that Mane only turns on the magic in the 'easy' games against lesser opposition?
Not necessarily, Mane has scored against Manchester United and Arsenal so far this season, although that translates to two goals in eight appearances against fellow 'Big Six' teams.
During his career with Liverpool, Mane has scored six goals in 25 appearances against the traditional 'Big Six' teams. Jurgen Klopp and co. will be hoping that he can enhance that statistic, as well as continuing his role as good luck charm, for the remainder of the league campaign.
