Mane teases Firmino with brutal reaction in win over ex-Liverpool team-mate
Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino may have enjoyed great times at Liverpool together - but that didn't stop the Senegalese star goading his former teammate on Friday night.
Mane's Al-Nassr side took on Al-Ahli in what proved a thrilling clash, with the former running out 4-3 winners. Inevitably, it was Cristiano Ronaldo who stole the show with two goals, as his side went fifth in the table and moved just two points off the top.
However, Ronaldo's goals weren't the only talking point, with the behaviour of Mane also telling. After the ex- Man Utd forward scored the opener, Talisca made it 2-0 after just 17 minutes.
As the Al-Nassr players ran to the Brazilian goalscorer to celebrate, Mane headed for an unsuspecting Firmino. And then he pointedly jumped on the back of his former partner in crime, mocking the fact his team were losing.
Firmino, who left Anfield when his contract expired in the summer, didn't appear to react with any volatility, instead walking away from the situation. Mane meanwhile, headed in the direction of Talisca and co.
Klopp's dream Liverpool line up as last-gasp January transfers rejectedThe jibe nearly backfired though, when on the half-hour mark Franck Kessie pulled one back for the visitors, only for Talisca to strike again in first-half injury-time. The drama continued after the break, with another ex-Premier League star, Riyad Mahrez, pulling one back for Al-Ahli from the penalty spot.
Ronaldo's second goal straight after seemingly made the game safe, before Feras Albrikan set up a nervy finale. But it was Al-Nassr who held on for a fifth league win in seven games.
HAVE YOUR SAY! What did you make of Mane's reaction? Comment below.
Mane, 31, left Liverpool for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022, having helped the club to, among a host of trophies, Premier League and Champions League glory in his six-year stint on Merseyside. Despite reports of indifferences with Mo Salah, no rift with Firmino was ever apparent.
His time in Germany was then plagued by controversy, suspended by the club for a physical altercation with Leroy Sane. He did capture a Bundesliga medal, but having fallen out with Thomas Tuchel, his exit this year looked inevitable.
Since joining Al-Nassr, he's struck six times in seven league games. Firmino initially wowed with a hat-trick in his first game for his new club, but hasn't found the net since.
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