LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 24: Sadio Mane of Liverpool reacts during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final First Leg match between Liverpool and A.S. Roma at Anfield on April 24, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Sadio Mane is the new owner of the Liverpool number 10 shirt and that could hint at a tweak from Jurgen Klopp to the Reds’ formation this season. Ever since Philippe Coutinho left Liverpool in January the consensus has been that Jurgen Klopp needs to find a new number 10. Well he has found his man and he didn’t have to look very far! Sadio Mane has switched shirts from number 19 to the famous number 10. Mane follows in the footsteps of John Barnes, John Toshack, Ronnie Whelan, Michael Owen and Luis Garcia. (Let’s not mention Joe Cole or Andriy Voronin). That is plenty of history and expectation. It is not simply a squad number to satisfy Premier League regulations. It means something more. We know that Klopp has been keen to add a versatile attacking midfielder this summer. That man was set to be Nabil Fekir from Lyon. However with the transfer falling through to medical issues it now looks like the summer transfer business is done. The presumption until today is that Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane from right to left would continue as a front trio. Then perhaps with Adam Lallana or new boy Xherdan Shaqiri as the number 10 options without Fekir or an alternative arriving. The news of Mane’s number change could be a prompt to him moving a little deeper and more centrally in some games; much like Couthinho did when he was positioned (nominally) on the left. That would make Firmino and Salah more of a striker duo with Mane joining Naby Keita in the middle to collect the ball and feed the front partnership. I think Klopp’s default system will remain the 4-3-3 formation we are used to and worked so well last year. It thrives on pressing and exploiting the gaps behind full backs on the break. Having Mane in a number 10 role in a 4-3-1-2 formation would be better to exploit teams who play deeply with numbers; making best use of the space in midfield. It will be exciting to watch how Klopp tweaks his side this year with his new midfield options.<doc-sep>Sadio Mane will wear the No.10 shirt for Liverpool for the 2018-19 season. The Senegal international has switched from his previous number, 19, which he has worn since joining the club from Southampton in 2016, ahead of the new campaign. Mane now takes up the No.10 jersey vacated by Philippe Coutinho upon his move to FC Barcelona in January, which has also been worn by John Barnes, Joe Cole, Luis Garcia, Michael Owen and Andriy Voronin during the Premier League era. Liverpool FC will offer supporters who have purchased a 2018-19 replica shirt printed with ‘Mane 19’ a like-for-like exchange for a ‘Mane 10’ jersey. Please click here for full details.<doc-sep>Sadio Mane has adopted the vacant No. 10 shirt at Liverpool, in what could prove to be a big indication of the club’s plans moving forward. The Reds were initially expected to have reserved Philippe Coutinho‘s old number for Nabil Fekir, but a deal to sign the Lyon captain broke down in June. Though there remain hopes a move for the 24-year-old could be revived, speaking after Thursday’s 2-0 win at Blackburn, Klopp suggested there would be no further signings made this summer. Instead, the next hopeful development could be a new long-term contract for Mane, following similar extensions for both Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino. And the club confirmed on Friday afternoon that Mane will now wear the No. 10 shirt. Mane wore the No. 10 in his final season with Red Bull Salzburg, before taking it on his move to Southampton, and it is also his number for the Senegal national team. In a statement released along with the news of Mane’s number change, Liverpool explained plans for those who had already purchased new home and away shirts with his previous No. 19: Sadio Mane will wear the No.10 shirt for #LFC for the 18/19 season. ?https://t.co/Z1oIR836lM pic.twitter.com/9wGXMiJtH0 — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 20, 2018 “Liverpool FC will offer supporters who have purchased a 2018/19 replica shirt printed with ‘Mane 19’ a like-for-like exchange for a ‘Mane 10’ jersey. Please click here for full details. […] “To claim this offer, supporters should return their 2018-19 ‘Mane 19’ replica shirt to any official LFC club store, where the shirt will be exchanged. Proof of purchase will be required and the original shirt will be retained. “Fans who purchased a 2018-19 ‘Mane 19’ replica shirt online via the official LFC online store should follow the standard returns procedure as outlined in the store’s terms and conditions. We strongly recommend supporters send the shirts via recorded delivery as the club cannot accept responsibility for items lost in the post. “Supporters who wish to exchange their shirt must do so before Friday August 17, 2018. Any shirts received after this date will not be valid for an exchange. “Retained shirts will be donated to the club’s official charity, LFC Foundation, who will work with KitAid to distribute them to underprivileged children and adults in some of the world’s poorest countries.” Mane returned for pre-season training on Friday, and this could be followed by the announcement of a new contract for the 26-year-old. He has been widely touted with an improved deal, and this would see the club continue to tie down their most important players—particularly in the wake of rumoured interest from Real Madrid. Securing Mane’s future would be one of the biggest successes of a transfer window that has already seen Liverpool sign Naby Keita, Fabinho, Xherdan Shaqiri and Alisson. Along with Salah, Rhian Brewster and Taiwo Awoniyi have also agreed new terms this summer, as the club also seek to cement the future of Klopp’s attacking ranks. However, Mane taking up the No. 10 shirt is likely a hint that a move for Fekir won’t be revisited, due to concerns over the Frenchman’s fitness. But as has been proved throughout the summer so far, Liverpool are certainly capable of pulling off a surprise after averting the media’s gaze.<doc-sep>The Senegal international takes the Barcelona star's former shirt number which has been vacant since the 26-year-old's move to Camp Nou Sadio Mane will wear the No.10 shirt at Liverpool this season. Philippe Coutinho vacated the number when he moved to Barcelona in January of last year, and the Senegal international has now taken over. Mane previously wore No.19 at Anfield, but has now switched to the new number that has something of a chequered history at the club. John Barnes, Michael Owen and Luis Garcia were all successful No.10s at Liverpool, but Joe Cole and Andriy Voronin fared less well. If recent form is to suggest anything, though, Mane should enjoy the responsibility afforded by the number. Article continues below The Senegal international had an excellent campaign in 2017-18, scoring 20 goals in all competitions and providing nine assists. In the Champions League, Mane scored 10 times in just 11 appearances as the club reached the Champions League final against Real Madrid. Mane captained Senegal at the 2018 World Cup, and scored in his side's 2-2 draw with Japan. However, they were eliminated at the group stages, losing 1-0 to Colombia after beating Poland 2-1 in their opening game.<doc-sep>
There was a Philippe Coutinho-shaped hole on the number 10 shirt Here’s one for you, Sadio Mane will be Liverpool’s topscorer this season. Did you keep a straight face? Because I’m not joking. While Mo Salah grabs all the headlines and everyone is fawning over Roberto Firmino’s over-underrated profile, Mane was low-key Liverpool’s best player at the end of last season. AFP or licensors 3 Never forget, chat s*** get banged And most dangerous striker. Don’t forget he scored the Reds’ only goal in the Champions League final against Real Madrid. Then he had a pretty solid World Cup with Senegal, despite the Lions of Teranga failing to make it out of a difficult group. With Philippe Coutinho departing for Barcelona in January there was an opening for Liverpool’s famed number 10 shirt. Sadio Mane will wear the No.10 shirt for #LFC for the 18/19 season. 🔴https://t.co/Z1oIR836lM pic.twitter.com/9wGXMiJtH0 — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 20, 2018 And Mane snapped it up before Salah or Firmino had returned from their summer holidays. By why would a lightning quick left winger want to wear the shirt usually associated with the team’s most creative player – the Lionel Messis and Juan Roman Riquelmes of this world? Well it all stems from his time away with Senegal in Russia. Reuters 3 Top kit Mane plays in the 10 role for his country and sees himself as a budding creator in the middle of the park. Now he’s decided to take Coutinho’s number at club level, could this be trying to get Jurgen Klopp to deploy him as the club’s 10? As Chris Bascombe divulged in The Telegraph, the club were looking for a number 10 all summer but all they needed to do was look a bit closer up front. Especially now it looks like Nabil Fekir definitely won’t be swapping Lyon for Liverpool. Getty - Contributor 3 The Mane man Mane is the biggest star in Senegal’s team and it is no surprise he is saddled with the responsibility of inspiring the players. But has he got what’s required to fill Coutinho’s boots at Liverpool? Probably not, but then again Coutinho isn’t the only Brazilian he would be trying to replicate with his new shirt number. Mane is said to have idolised Ronaldinho throughout his career and the legendary ponytailed Brazilian always wore the number 10 shirt – even when he was sharing a pitch with Lionel Messi at Barcelona. Mane has become an expert at copying celebrations, but can he copy other living footballers? Lets find out this season.