Sadio Mane: All of us are excited to experience the new Anfield
Sadio Mane is in line to make his home debut for Liverpool against Leicester City on Saturday – and the summer signing insists he will savour running out at an expanded Anfield for the first time in red.
The stadium’s newly-constructed Main Stand will officially open for it's maiden matchday, catering for an additional 8,500 Kopites to take the sold-out capacity to just over 54,000.
And Mane is hoping to cap an occasion to remember for more reasons than one with a home victory.
He told Liverpoolfc.com: “I’m excited, of course. I’m excited to play in front of our brilliant fans.
“Not only me, but every player is excited to play in front of our amazing fans and I think they’ll be great for us. It will be a tough game, but we’re looking forward to all our games.
“No game is easy, but I think the fans will be pleased because we will give our best to try and make them happy and try to win the game.”
Liverpool’s first run out on home turf in 2016-17 was delayed as the finishing touches were applied to the Main Stand.
It meant the Reds’ initial three Premier League fixtures were on the road at Arsenal, Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur and they head into the latest contest with four points following a win, a defeat and a draw.
“Every player would like to play in front of those fans,” continued Mane. “It was not our situation for our first three games, but you have to accept it and in football, you cannot always play in front of your fans at home.
“It was not a big problem for us. We lost one game, but we’re not looking at that – we’re looking forward to the next game, especially because it’s at home at Anfield.
“I can say we wouldn’t have expected more, but we have to accept it. We’ve forgotten about it already and we’re looking forward to the next game, which is an important one.”
It’s somewhat fitting Liverpool’s first ever fixture in front of the new Main Stand will see them welcome the current champions, Leicester City.
The Foxes enjoyed a fairy-tale campaign last term as they swept their way to the crown; however, while Mane knows Liverpool will be in for a stern test, he insists the Reds have what it takes to claim three points based on what he's seen so far.
“It will be tough, but every player loves to play in the top games,” said the 24-year-old. “We’re looking forward because it’s an important game for us, especially because we need a victory. We will give our best to win for the fans and for the club.
“Leicester are champions, but we know them and how to play against them. We are going be ready to try and beat them.
“It’s not only Leicester; we believe we are capable of beating everybody. We just take it game by game and will try to win them.
“We have been unlucky at times [this season], but that’s part of football. We’re in a good way and we’re playing well and creating many chances. We will keep going and try to give more.”