Bayern 0 Liverpool 3: Sadio Mane sets Allianz Arena alight as Reds thrash German giants to remain unbeaten in pre-season and fire warning shot to Premier League rivals
Sadio Mane bagged Liverpool's first as they dismantled the German champions
FOR the first time in recent weeks with Liverpool we were not left talking about the money – but the Mane.
Sadio Mane put talk of Barcelona’s £70million interest in Philippe Coutinho on the back-burner for one night at least by battering hosts Bayern in this Audi Cup semi-final with a first-half super-show.
The Senegal striker lit up the Allianz Arena almost as much as lightning in the stormy skies above as he scored the first with goal with a fine finish and then set up the second for team-mate Mohamed Salah with a sublime piece of skill.
Mane, who was making just his second pre-season appearance on his comeback from the knee injury he suffered in April, was subbed off at half-time, but by then the damage had been done.
Well, not all of the damage as Daniel Sturridge, who came on as a 67th minute sub Salah, scored Liverpool’s third with a brilliant chip seven minutes from time – only to injure himself in the process!
The familiar sight of sub Sturridge hobbling back to the dressing rooms moments later before the final whistle had even be blown might not have been a big surprise given the striker’s previous.
But it took the gloss off an impressive and satisfying win for Kop boss Jurgen Klopp.
The German’s selection showed the rivers of his rivalry with Bayern runs deep.
most read in football
Klopp fielded his strongest possible line-up for their Audi Cup opener against his former club.
And any notion this would be just a run of the mill friendly was dispelled when Bayern’s midfield ace Thiago hobbled off early on after becoming the victim of one of many full-bloodied Liverpool challenges.
Mane understandably looked a bit rusty in his return in Berlin on Saturday, but there was no sign of that here.
In fact, he looked as sharp as tack from the off as latched on to a pass from Roberto Firmino and fired Liverpool 1-0 up in the eighth minute.
It would be easy to rattle out a line saying the goal calmed the Kop’s nerves. But the truth is, it looked like they did not have any anxiety as they set about the hosts in a composed and commanding manner.
Left-back Alberto Moreno went close to adding another with a 25-yard free kick Bayern keeper Sven Ulreich saved superbly under his own crossbar – before a piece of brilliance by Mane doubled Liverpool’s lead.
The opening scorer appeared to have few options after his progress into the box was halted by the Bayern defence.
But a stunning drag back and flick unlocked the door for the overlapping Moreno to get in behind and drill in a cross which was parried by Ulreich but only as far as Salah who headed into an unguarded net from inside the six-yard box.
Liverpool, despite making nine changes, continued to dominate after the break and Marko Grujic was unfortunate to have a goal ruled out for offside.
But Sturridge made amends by making it 3-0 to the visitors with an audacious lob after Ben Woodburn put him through.
Liverpool will now play Atletico Madrid in today’s final after the Spaniards beat Napoli 2-1 in the earlier semi.