Sadio Mane tipped to become ‘bigger Liverpool legend’ than John Barnes by Jamie Carragher… and Barnsey agrees!

John Barnes has told talkSPORT he agrees with Jamie Carragher, and believes Sadio Mane could become a bigger Liverpool legend than him.

However, he insisted the Senegalese ace must do one thing - or not do something, more accurately - to ensure he goes down in the Anfield history books – don’t be another Fernando Torres or Luis Suarez.

2

Mane was the Reds’ star man once again on Sunday, as he scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

And Carragher reacted to the stunning performance by boldly claiming he could end his Liverpool career as a better player for the club than Reds legend Barnes.

Barnes is one of the club’s biggest icons, who won two First Division titles, two FA Cups and a League Cup during a decade on Merseyside between 1987 and 1997.

He also is unquestionably picked on the left side of Liverpool’s best-ever XI.

But Carragher says Mane may soon eclipse the Jamaican-born star, saying on Sky Sports: “I think Mane is one of the best left-sided attacking players in world football. I love him.

“He's the first big signing for Jurgen Klopp and that got Liverpool into the Champions League in Klopp's first season. He's been a constant and he's an absolute superstar.

“We loved John Barnes and he has always been in Liverpool's best ever XI, wide left. But I think when Mane finishes he's going to be really pushing John Barnes for that position.”

2

Mane’s fine brace against Chelsea took his Liverpool tally to 83 goals and 34 assists in 173 games – still a fair way off Barnes’ record of 108 goals and 108 assists in 407 games in a Reds shirt.

Barnes joined talkSPORT on Monday morning to  offer his reaction to Carragher’s claim.

And he agreed, although said Mane can only become a true Liverpool legend on one condition – he has to stay at Anfield.

“Well, he’ll definitely be slimmer than me, I can tell you that,” he joked on the talkSPORT Breakfast.

“Mane has been fantastic, of course. What he’s done in the time he’s been here has been absolutely sensational.

“But, as we saw with Fernandes Torres and Luis Suarez, if he leaves this season or at the end of the season after being here for four years, you can’t compare them.

“If they stay there over a period of time, THEN you can compare him to any great player from the past.

“Mane has been great, but all three of them have been great, Salah as well and, for me, Firmino still is my favourite player as he links it all together.”