Harry Diamond
Rio Ferdinand has named Sadio Mane as Liverpool’s dangerman ahead of the club’s crucial meeting with Manchester City in the Premier League this weekend.
The Premier League‘s top two meet at Anfield in a high stakes encounter on Sunday, in a fixture which could have huge implications on this season’s title race.
League-leading Liverpool currently hold a six-point advantage over the defending champions, and could extend that lead to nine with victory on Merseyside.
Ahead of the clash, former Manchester United and England defender Ferdinand admits there is not much to split the two sides at present, but has identified Liverpool forward Mane as the man who can hurt Manchester City‘s defence.
The Senegal international has begun the new campaign in fine form and has scored six league goals already this season, with Ferdinand admitting the 27-year-old represents a ‘nightmare for any defender’.
“I don’t think there’s much between the attacks,” Ferdinand told BBC 5Live. “It’s the other end of the pitch, the defences, where Liverpool absolutely override Man City.
“I’d probably not want to play at the moment against the Liverpool front three – I think Mane is an absolute nightmare for any defender.”
City go into the game with a threadbare defence, with holding midfielder Fernandinho once again likely to be asked to slot into the back four alongside John Stones.
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