Who's the Best? Liverpool's Sadio Mane vs Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez
Ahead of the Reds' Premier League clash with Manchester City, Planet Sport casts their eye over two giants of the African game and decides who is the best.
Mane vs Mahrez - backgrounds
After making his name at Quimper and then Ligue 2's Le Havre, Mahrez was signed by then Championship side Leicester City for just £400,000.
In 2013/14, his first season in England, Mahrez was a bit-part player as Leicester won the Championship. However, he went on to play a pivotal role in the Foxes' Premier League-winning season of 2015/16, scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists.
The Algerian's strong form over the next two seasons earned him a £60million transfer to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
Mane started his professional career with Metz, before spending two seasons at Red Bull Salzburg. He arrived in the Premier League with Southampton as a relative unknown.
Mane's form for Southampton saw him earn a £34million move to Liverpool, where he played an integral role in the Anfield club's first ever Premier League title season.
Mane vs Mahrez - the stats
Just over a year later he moved to Anfield, and, under Jurgen Klopp, he has fulfilled his potential as one of Europe's best wingers.
Mane has scored 101 goals, contributed 43 assists and forged a formidable partnership with Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah. Since Salah's arrival the two have scored 221 goals between them.
Mane has started the majority of games since he arrived at Liverpool in 2016, largely due to a lack of depth at left wing. Mahrez often falls victim to Guardiola's rotation system and is competing against world-class team-mates including Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Ferran Torres and, formerly Leroy Sane.
Mane vs Mahrez - silverware and accolades
Mane vs Mahrez - conclusion
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