Mane stars as last-gasp penalty ensures Liverpool maintain winning run

Sadio Mane, Senegalese winger, scored one and won the last-minute penalty converted by James Milner to hand wasteful Liverpool a 2-1 win over in-form Leicester City at Anfield.

The win ensured Liverpool’s perfect season continued as Jurgen Klopp’s side having won all eight games played so far this season.

Mane missed early chances to put Liverpool ahead, with James Milner and Mo’ Salah also wasting opportunities in front of goal.

Wilfred Ndidi, Super Eagles’ tenacious midfielder, was his usual busy self, impressively helping Leicester stifle the Reds but eventually got a yellow card in the 30th minute for a poor tackle.

Mane would eventually score the opening goal on 40 minutes in typical fashion, slotting into the back of the net after latching onto a diagonal pass from Milner to give the home side a 1-0 lead at halftime.

It was Mane’s 50th EPL goal for Liverpool — and fifth of the season — in a game he continued to prove his importance to the team at both ends of the pitch.

The second period was more open but Liverpool continued the wastefulness in front of goal with Mane, Salah, Firmino and Andy Robertson all contriving to waste good opportunities.

Leicester City, managed by Bredan Rodgers, former Liverpool coach, have been in good form since his arrival, sitting third on the EPL table.

The 2016 champions equalized ten minutes from full-time through James Maddison, with the 22-year-old attacking midfielder latching on to Ayoze Perez’s pass to deliver a seemingly fatal blow to Liverpool.

Mane would have the final say in added time when he won the penalty after Marc Albrighton impeded the red-hot winger in the box.

Milner stepped up and expertly dispatched to send Anfield into delirium as fans celebrated as though the league had been won.

The win is Liverpool’s 17th on the bounce and moves them one behind EPL champions, Manchester City’s record of 18 straight victories set last season.

...Iwobi starts, Balogun returns to bench

Like his compatriot Ndidi, Alex Iwobi was also on for 90 minutes and was unable to prevent ten-man Everton from slipping to a 1-0 defeat at Burnley. The former Arsenal starlet had an opportunity to give his wobbling team the lead but scuffed his shot.

In the first game of the weekend, Leon Balogun returned to the substitutes’ bench after several games in oblivion and watched as his Brighton mates added to Tottenham’s misery, inflicting a 3-0 loss on the North Londoners.

After a 2-7 loss to Bayern Munich in midweek, Tottenham fell to goals from Neal Maupay and Aaaron Conolly (brace).

Results

Brighton 3-0 Tottenham

Norwich 1-5 Aston Villa

Watford 0-0 Sheffield United

Burnley 1-0 Everton

Liverpool 2-1 Leicester City