Mane explains Liverpool's Anfield mindset
Liverpool go into every match at Anfield with the conviction they will win – and Sadio Mane insists they intend to 'try more than ever' against Leicester City tonight.
The Reds have not lost at home in the Premier League since April 2017, a run of 32 games, and battled to a 4-3 victory over Crystal Palace there in their last outing.
That formidable record has helped Jürgen Klopp’s side set the pace in the division and Mane has offered his take on the mentality fuelling the unbeaten run.
“If you play at home, especially at Anfield, we have in our head that no-one is going to beat us, we’re going to beat all of them,” the forward told Liverpoolfc.com.
“It’s what we try to do. It’s very important for us; it’s out of our minds to lose at the moment even though it’s part of football, we know.
“We know how to sacrifice yourself and do everything to win games. But, to be honest, [the record] is not something in our head. The only thing we focus on is the games coming.”
Leicester make the journey to Merseyside having lost their last two Premier League fixtures.
But the hard-fought nature of Liverpool’s win at the King Power Stadium earlier in the campaign, where Mane was on target in a 2-1 success, serves as a reminder that the Reds cannot let standards dip.
“They are a very good team,” said Mane.
“When we played there, we got a positive result and won the game 2-1 even though it was very tough. But it’s normal, it’s the Premier League.
“Now we are playing at home. In this league every game is very tough; the only thing we have in our head is that we’re playing at home and we are Liverpool. We’re going to do everything to win the game.”
The Foxes have form against sides at the top of the table, too – Claude Puel’s men defeated both Chelsea and Manchester City in December.
And the knowledge of that threat will ensure Liverpool treat the visitors with the utmost respect, according to Mane.
“Not only Leicester, you can take the example of Crystal Palace [winning] at Man City,” added the Senegal international.
“For us, it’s like we’re going to play against City or Arsenal or Tottenham, Chelsea or United. We will not give them any chances, we’re going to try more than ever to win the game.”