Sadio Mane is no longer the golden child at Anfield.
If you gave Liverpool supporters an either/or choice between Mane or Mohamed Salah right now, the vast majority would opt for the latter.
It’s a far cry from last season, when Mane was seen as the most important player when it came to implementing the philosophy of manager Jurgen Klopp.
But the impact of Salah on the Reds this season, since signing from Roma for a fee of £36.9 million in the summer, far exceeds what Mane accomplished last term.
And Ian Wright thinks he’s spotted an issue between the Liverpool teammates, suggesting that Mane is annoyed how Salah has taken over the mantle as the side’s most crucial attacking option.
“Do you think there is a bit of jealousy there? With Mo Salah?” Wright asked on BBC 5 Live, via the Mirror.
“He just looks a little bit perturbed by it.
“Mo Salah has come in and – remember when Mane went to the Africa Cup of Nations and everyone was like ‘oh it’s over now, we can’t replace Mane’?
“And now they’ve got Salah and he’s been on the bench.”
Salah already has 20 goals and four assists in all competitions this season and has quickly endeared himself to the Anfield faithful.
Quite the trek https://t.co/VFiVdJp7yh
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) December 19, 2017
And the Egypt international is favourite to pick up the Confederation of African Football Player of the Year award but he, as well as Mane, will be in Ghana for the ceremony 24 hours prior to Liverpool’s FA Cup third round clash with Merseyside rivals Everton at the beginning of January in a decision which has concerned several fans.