Mane starts to show his worth

Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum believes team-mate Sadio Mane is starting to show he is one of the best in the world.

The Senegal international has endured a stop-start season so far with a three-match suspension followed by hamstring problems which saw him sidelined for a month.

However, four goals in his last four matches, including a spectacular volley in the 7-0 Champions League drubbing of Spartak Moscow, suggests the 25-year-old is back on track.

In addition to his goals he is also creating numerous chances for the other members of the ‘Fab Four’ – Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Philippe Coutinho — and generally giving opposition defenders a tough time.

“If you show consistency and perform week in, week out then you are one of the best,” said Wijnaldum ahead of tomorrow’s 229th Merseyside derby.

“Of course you will have bad games but the best players in the world have bad games.

“If you are to analyse the season so far you would say they are delivering. It is normal people would say he is one of the best.”

The form of Liverpool’s front four has seen them score 48 goals between them in all competitions, with Salah the leading Premier League marksman with 12.

But it isn’t all positive on the red half of Merseyside. Boss Jurgen Klopp launched a passionate defence of captain Jordan Henderson by insisting the midfielder has the hardest job in football taking Steven Gerrard’s armband.

There has been a growing undercurrent of discontent among some sections of the fan base about the England international’s value to the team, and his omission for Wednesday’s 7-0 Champions League win over Spartak Moscow only fed that narrative.

Klopp insists Henderson has earned his place as captain and deserves to be treated with more respect.

“Being the skipper of Liverpool is the hardest job in world football because the man who had the armband before was Steven Gerrard. Sorry, he finished playing football, we cannot get him back.

“I want everyone to respect that Jordan Henderson is our skipper because he deserved it and he is the right man for the job. That doesn’t mean he can play all the games.

“I only spoke about it because I knew people would say, ‘Oh yes, fantastic game (against Spartak). Jordan didn’t play so make a shit story of it’.

"They are shit stories. Actually it is no story apart from in England and especially in Liverpool it is a story. Now I have said a little bit about it, the story is done.”