The 2013/14 season saw the North West shift along the M62 to Merseyside as Brendan Rodgers’ Reds pushed for the title, while David Moyes failed in his task to take over the reigning champions.
But it wasn’t until Jurgen Klopp arrived in late 2015 that Liverpool really began to topple their rivals.
One of the German’s most significant signings was Mane, who joined Anfield from Southampton in the summer of 2016 for £34m.
Why Sadio Mane rejected Man United for Liverpool
Speaking Rio Ferdinand presentsthe Senegalese winger recalled how Man United also wanted him.
“At the time, Manchester United called me at the same time,” says Mane.
“I spoke to Van Gaal. Rooney was there, Di Maria was there, Depay was there. When they couldn’t buy me, they bought Martial.”
“Van Gaal called me. He said: ‘Mane, how are you? I want you to come to Manchester United.’
“I say, ‘Really?’
“He said, ‘Yeah, okay, now I’m talking to my agent.’
“We’ll see what’s best because I know you’re a good player and you can help the team. And we can also help you become a better player.”
“And then I say: ‘Okay. My question: you have Depay, you have Rooney, you have Van Persie I think, so where am I going to play?’
“That was my question because I, I want to play.
“He said: ‘I know you are talented, you are good, but if you train well and make a good impression you will play, but we have another good player.’
“So I wasn’t convinced about his . A few days later Klopp called me.”
Interestingly, Klopp himself gave a similar reason for rejecting Man United following Ferguson’s departure, recently explaining that the project was ‘not about football’ and that it was simply ‘bringing the best players together and then going’.
• READ: Jurgen Klopp has detailed why he rejected Man United before joining Liverpool
Sadio Mane also rejected Tottenham in favor of Liverpool
It was the boss’s personal approach that led to Mane joining Liverpool, with the now 33-year-old explaining that the manager’s apology over a previous failed transfer from Red Bull Salzburg to Borussia Dortmund played a role in the decision to join the Reds.
“At that time, Liverpool weren’t even in the Champions League,” Mane said.
“When Klopp called me he said: ‘How are you? It was my fault you didn’t come to Dortmund because he knew I wanted to come.’
“I met him first. I wasn’t happy and he was the first to apologize.
“And he said, ‘We’ll build a team that no one wants to play against, and then when we grow up together, you’ll play every game.’
“So when he said this, I went to the kind of project I wanted because he said we will be a strong team and I will play every match.”
Mane also explained how he turned down Tottenham to join Liverpool, having already informed Mauricio Pochettino that he would be moving to North London.
“Three days later Klopp called me,” Mane continued.
“I say: ‘This is my club! This is the right thing.’ [decision] and this is what I want to do!’
“And I say: ‘I give you my word. Some clubs wanted me, but no, I’ll get there’.”
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