Captain's verdict on Barca win and Sadio Mane brilliance
Jordan Henderson insisted Liverpool will take great confidence but not get carried away by their 'very big performance' in beating Barcelona 4-0 at Wembley on Saturday.
The Reds were clinical against the Spaniards in front of 90,000 fans, springing out of the traps and taking a lead through Sadio Mane with 15 minutes on the clock.
An own goal from Javier Mascherano early in the second half increased the deficit and further strikes by Divock Origi and Marko Grujic rounded off a productive evening for Jürgen Klopp’s side.
They won’t let the result go to their heads, however, with Henderson stressing the work still to be done even in the moments immediately after the win was sealed.
The captain told Sky Sports: “It was a very big performance. We were arguably playing against the best team in the world, with the best players in the world.
“It was a big test for us but our performance was very good. Each and every one of us worked our socks off and gave everything for each other, and we got our rewards with the goals.
“It will build confidence up massively but at the same time we need to keep our feet on the ground.
“We need to keep continuing to work like we have done in pre-season and keep following what the boss wants us to do. And if we do that, we’ll win more than we don’t.
“Overall, defensively we looked solid and going forward we looked very dangerous. So we’re pleased but we need to recover well, we’ve got another game tomorrow.”
Mane was involved in much of Liverpool’s best work on the night and found the target for the first time since his move from Southampton with an unerring drive into the roof of the net.
Henderson has been impressed by the Senegal forward, who along with the club’s other summer recruits is creating fierce competition for a starting spot when the Premier League gets underway next weekend.
“He has been brilliant since he came in,” the midfielder said of Mane.
“You have seen in the pre-season games he is sharp, he wants to go in behind and he wants it to feet. His finishing is very good as well.
“He is a fantastic addition to the squad, as are the other players the manager has brought in. We’ve got a healthy looking squad going into the first game of the season and everybody is fighting to play.”
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