Sadio Mané: “Mohamed Salah wasn’t Liverpool’s top finisher — even Jürgen Klopp agrees.”

Sadio Mane Overlooks Salah in Favor of Origi as Top Finisher at Liverpool

During his time at Liverpool, Sadio Mane was part of a devastating attacking trio alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino that led the club to Premier League and Champions League titles under Jurgen Klopp. However, Mane once overlooked Salah when asked to name the best finisher he played with at Anfield.

Known for having a somewhat strained relationship with Salah, Mane’s decision to leave Liverpool for Bayern Munich in 2022 was partly attributed to their on-field tensions. Following his exit, Mane seemed to take a subtle jab at Salah by leaving him out of his top pick.

Mane Picks Origi Over Salah

In an interview with 1teamsports (via The Sun), Mane named Belgian striker Divock Origi as the most clinical finisher he shared the pitch with at Liverpool. Although Origi was rarely a regular starter under Klopp, he had a reputation for scoring vital goals off the bench.

Origi’s contributions included key goals in Liverpool’s stunning comeback against Barcelona and the second goal in the 2019 Champions League final win over Tottenham.

Interestingly, Mane isn’t alone in his assessment. Klopp himself once labeled Origi as the team’s best finisher, praising him as a “legend on and off the pitch” and highlighting his quality in training. Klopp acknowledged the difficulty in leaving him out of the lineup, given how much he was respected within the squad.

Origi’s Struggles Post-Liverpool

After his departure from Anfield, Origi moved to AC Milan with hopes of becoming a leading figure. However, his career has since stalled. He hasn’t played for Milan since the 2022–23 season and spent an underwhelming loan spell at Nottingham Forest in 2023–24.

Despite limited appearances and impact—scoring just two goals in 36 matches—Origi remains in Milan, benefitting from favorable tax regulations for foreign players. He currently earns £277,000 per month through 2026, although he primarily features for Milan Futuro, the club’s third-division side, making his signing appear more costly than productive.