:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63278720/1132599941.jpg.0.jpg)
Sadio Mané’s 11th goal in 11 games arrived in the 26th minute on Sunday at Craven Cottage when the Reds took on Scott Parker’s relegation bound Fulham side. That goal was Mané’s 17th in the Premier League and his 20th for Liverpool in all competitions this season.
He is now level with Mohamed Salah on both fronts. Salah and Mané are currently in second place (Sergio Aguero is in the top spot on 18 goals) on the PL’s top scorers list with 17 goals and Salah is also on 20 goals in all competitions. Last season Mohamed Salah found the back of the net an incredible 44 times for Liverpool in all competitions and of course went on to win the prestigious Golden Boot along with several other accolades, whilst Mané reached a total of 20 goals in all competitions.
The last time Liverpool had a formidable duo reach 20 goals each in successive seasons was during the 1982-83 season courtesy of Liverpool’s then number seven (Sir) Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush who donned the number nine during the majority of his Liverpool career (he also played wearing numbers 7, 8 and 11 during his first stint at the club before transferring to Juventus in 1987).
During the 1981-82 season, Liverpool’s all-time top goal scorer in all competition (346 goals in 660 games) Ian Rush scored 30 goals while King Kenny reached 22 goals. The following season Rush scored 31 goals whilst King Kenny found the back of the net 20 times.
The only duo to reach 20 goals each three years running are Roger Hunt and Ian St. John who did so under Bill Shankly and they scored as follows:
1961 – 62
Roger Hunt: 23
Ian St John: 22
1962 – 63
Roger Hunt: 42
Ian St John: 20
1963 – 64
Roger Hunt: 26
Ian St John: 22
The Golden Boot
Mohamed Salah of course outscored and outclassed pretty much everyone last season with his fantastic scoring exploits and went on to win the Golden Boot after scoring 32 goals in the Premier League, becoming the outright record holder for scoring the most goals in a 38-match season. Alan Shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez are tied for second with 31 goals in a 38-match season.
Another Liverpool great who also won the Golden Boot in his time at Liverpool and scored 63 goals in his 104 appearances for the club, John Aldridge, firmly believes that it will be Sadio Mané’s turn to clinch the award this season and his faith in that has lead him to share his thoughts with the player every chance he gets.
Chatting to the Liverpool Echo recently, Aldridge said:
“Every time I’ve seen Sadio Mane over the past six weeks I keep saying to him: ‘Golden Boot, Golden Boot!’ because I know he’s got it in his locker to do it. He’s very shy and always replies to me: “No, no, no” but all of a sudden, he’s got a chance. He or Mo Salah both have an opportunity. For me as a centre-forward, I believe that winning the Golden Boot is a very prestigious honour. It’s a fantastic achievement for any player to be top scorer in their division but to do it in the Premier League is extra special.
Sadio has now got himself into a situation in which he’s got an outside chance of getting it – although I don’t think it’s got anything to do with me telling him!
I am sure the Liverpool collective would absolutely love to see the award remain at the club for another season!
If you haven’t managed to catch the video of Sadio Mané’s 20 goals via LFCTV Go yet, the good news is that it is now available on the Liverpool F.C channel on YouTube or you could just check it out down below. Enjoy!