Sadio Mane believes Liverpool must vastly improve on their performance against RB Salzburg if they are to be successful in keeping out Leicester hitman Jamie Vardy at Anfield.
Liverpool conceded the least goals in the Premier League last term (22) but Jurgen Klopp’s defence has faced some early criticism this season after just two clean sheets in the English top flight thus far.
On Saturday afternoon, the Reds play host to an in-form Leicester side who will be bursting with confidence following a thumping 5-0 victory at home to Newcastle last weekend.
Vardy helped himself to a quickfire brace as Newcastle fell apart in the second half at the King Power Stadium. The result saw Leicester rise to third in the table.
Liverpool, meanwhile, head into this weekend’s clash on the back of their shaky 4-3 win over RB Salzburg in the Champions League.
Mane, who scored Liverpool’s opening goal on Wednesday night, knows the side must shore up at the back to give themselves the best possible chance against Leicester.
‘I think if we want to win we have to play better than [against Salzburg] because we know Leicester,’ Mane said.
‘Especially this season they are very strong and a very good team.
‘For sure we are going to learn from it and be ready for Saturday, which will be a massive game for us.
‘I think they started the season very well and are a very good team and if we want to beat them we have to be 100 per cent ready.’
Mane is well aware of Vardy’s reputation for scoring against the Premier League’s top teams and knows Liverpool cannot afford to underestimate the Leicester striker.
He said: ‘Vardy always scores.
‘We have to make sure this game he will not score and we try to take all our chances – that will be the key.’
Klopp speculated that Rodgers and Vardy will be licking their lips after Liverpool’s error-strewn win over Salzburg on Wednesday night.
‘I am sure Brendan Rodgers thinks if we defend like we did tonight then probably Jamie Vardy will run five times alone with the goalkeeper,’ he said.
“It was a very important lesson for us tonight. We will learn but we have to learn quick.
‘I knew before that we have to improve a lot but now everybody knows it probably.’
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