‘Absolute quality’: Martin Keown utterly blown away by £34m Liverpool player today

Sat 16 April 2022 17:28, UK

Martin Keown has lauded Liverpool star Sadio Mane for his efforts in the FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester City.

The BBC Sport pundit was commentating on Saturday’s encounter at Wembley, broadcast live on BBC One.

Liverpool and City have been head and shoulders above every other team in the country this season.

Indeed, they have been better than most of Europe too, and are now in the Champions League semi-finals.

The Reds and the Citizens have played out two 2-2 draws in the league this term.

Many would’ve been expecting the FA Cup semi-final to play out in a similar manner.

It didn’t look like it was going to be the case early on, that’s for sure.

Liverpool raced into a 3-0 lead at half-time and ran out 3-2 winners come full-time.

Jurgen Klopp’s charges took the lead after just nine minutes through yet another Ibrahima Konate header.

The 22-year-old has headed home the opener for Liverpool in both legs against Benfica and now against City.

Then, City goalkeeper Zack Steffen gifted Mane a second in the 17th minute.

He hesitated for far too long after controlling a back pass.

This allowed the forward to run into the box and slide the ball into the net.

“Red-hot Liverpool”

Mane then went on to add a third, capping off a superb team move to volley in at the near post.

“Absolute quality from Liverpool,” said Keown ().

“It all started from a diagonal from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

“It’s an outstanding volley, the shape on that, into the near post. It’s textbook.

“For me, the keeper should take another step but take nothing away from that finish.

“Red-hot Liverpool, just too good for City.”

However, City fought back in the second half and came close to forcing extra time.

Jack Grealish pulled one back for City early in the second half, before Bernardo Silva slotted home in the 90th minute.

A frantic end to the game followed, but Liverpool hung on to win 3-2, reach the final, and remain in contention for the quadruple.