Sadio Mane's Senegal suffered a tough loss to Norway at the World Cup, but the 34-year-old showed his lingering class with an assist that Liverpool fans - and Mohamed Salah - have seen over the years
03:00, 23 Jun 2026Updated 03:07, 23 Jun 2026
Sadio Mane brilliantly teed up Ismaila Sarr's opening goal with a pass that Liverpool fans have seen before
Sadio Mane brilliantly teed up Ismaila Sarr's opening goal with a pass that Liverpool fans have seen before(Image: Getty Images)
Sadio Mane rolled back the years at the World Cup by effortlessly recreating a move that Mohamed Salah and Liverpool used to take advantage of.
On Monday, Salah scored as Egypt clinched a first-ever World Cup win thanks to a 3-1 victory over New Zealand. The historic result was one to celebrate, and the Liverpool icon did just that as he took to the streets of Vancouver to party with jubilant fans.
But it was a different story for his former running mate 24 hours later. Mane and Senegal were no match for Erling Haaland’s Norway, falling 3-2 to leave the African nation without a point through two games.
However, Mane showed his class still remains. After Norway took a 2-0 lead, Mane elegantly flicked the ball into the path of Ismaila Sarr, who showed exceptional strength to latch onto the ball, hold off David Moller Wolfe, and fire a sliding strike into the roof of the net.
It was a delightful assist from Mane, and one that Liverpool fans have seen before. It was incredibly reminiscent of his pass to Salah against Manchester United in 2022, with his pass teeing up the Egyptian to slide a finish past David De Gea and cap off a remarkable team move.
Reds fans watching the World Cup action noticed the similarities, too. Several fans highlighted how Mane’s playmaking would be key for Senegal, given it was seen so many times at Anfield.
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“I was literally just thinking they should play that pass into mane so he can play it around the corner like when he assisted Salah,” wrote one fan. “Then 5 seconds later they did and boom.”
Another posted: “That Sarr goal comes with Mane literally playing a brilliant deft pass standing on the edge of the box as a 10. Mane is more effective there than he is on the wing. Simple!!!!
“He’s done similar passes like that to Salah for ages at Liverpool.”
Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah played five seasons together at Liverpool
Mane and Mohamed Salah played five seasons together at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Mane and Salah endured a fractured relationship during their time at Anfield, but played together for five seasons and contributed to four major trophy wins at Anfield, including the Premier League and Champions League. The duo formed part of a revered attacking trio along with Roberto Firmino under Jurgen Klopp.
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In 2025, Salah offered some insight into their relationship as he confirmed the duo wasn’t as close off the pitch as they were on it. He told L’Equipe: “Yes, there was tension with Sadio.
“Mind you, we were professional until the end. I don't think it affected the team. It's human to want more. I understand that he's a competitor. Off the pitch, we weren't very close, but we always respected each other.”
Mane added a second assist as he teed up Sarr once again for a close-range finish in the closing stages. Senegal will take on Iraq in their final World Cup group game at Toronto Stadium on Friday, June 26.