Liverpool's Sadio Mane hopes to turn goals into Champions League progression
ByPA Sport
Updated 06/12/2017 at 07:15 GMT
Forward Sadio Mane is confident Liverpool will continue to cause problems for defenders in the latter stages of the Champions League - although first they have to get into the knockout stages.
Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino (R) celebrates with Liverpool's Senegalese midfielder Sadio Mane (L) after scoring a goal on November 21, 2017 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Sevilla during the UEFA Champions League group E footba
Image credit: Getty Images
Forward Sadio Mane is confident Liverpool will continue to cause problems for defenders in the latter stages of the Champions League - although first they have to get into the knockout stages.
Heading into the final round of group matches, Jurgen Klopp's side are the second-highest scorers in the competition with their 16 from five games bettered only by Paris St Germain's remarkable 24 goals.
They are only two short of their best group stage tally achieved in 2007/08 and that firepower should be enough to secure them the point they need at home to Spartak Moscow to make the last 16 for the first time since 2009.
Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah both have five European goals apiece with the other members of their key attacking quartet Mane and Philippe Coutinho contributing one and two respectively.
Liverpool have put 10 past Maribor in two matches and scored three in Seville last time out and Mane hopes that kind of threat will keep opposition teams on their toes.
"I think we have scored more goals than many big teams," he said.
"It is important to score goals and win the games. It doesn't matter to us (who scores), we just want to win the games.
"We are working hard every single day to be difficult for the defenders. We going to try to do our best and cause as many problems as we can for the defenders.
"It is very important for us to be in the Champions League. It is the dream of each player in the world. The fans deserve it, the club also.
"Liverpool is a big and great club; we want to play a big part in the Champions League. We want to go as far as we can."
Mane is set to return to the side having been an unused substitute in Saturday's 5-1 win at Brighton after playing the starring role in the win at Stoke four days earlier.
With a virtually a fully-fit squad, the Senegal international accepts rotation is something every player will have to get used to, even if it is frustrating.
"Honestly, I won't lie: every player would love to play every single game, every single weekend. That is our job and we are still young," he added.
"But we have a good team and I am happy to respect the decision of the coach. The team is always more important."
While a point will be enough at Anfield, victory would see Liverpool top Group E.
Klopp has no intention of playing for the draw as he knows how dangerous that could be with a Spartak victory putting them through and relegating his side to the Europa League.
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Sadio Mane of Liverpool FC celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League group E match between Sevilla FC and Liverpool FC at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on November 21, 2017 in Seville, Spain.
Image credit: Getty Images
"It is all or nothing. A proper final," the German said.
"All or nothing usually means you can either win or you lose. We know we can draw but this information is only useful for after the game.
"We cannot play for that and we do not want to. If people (fans) are nervous or not I do not know.
"If I knew 100 per cent how they will start the game I will say 'yes, they must attack' and it can cause us problems if we do not defend well.
"Everyone is saying we are brilliant at counter-attacks. We scored some nice goals, that is true, but we have to do our job.
"We are a possession team. We will have the ball and must have an idea for that."
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