Firmino’s Mediating Role in Salah and Mane’s Liverpool Tensions

Roberto Firmino, the former Liverpool striker, has opened up about the relationship between his ex-teammates Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, revealing that they were “never the best of friends.” Firmino, who played alongside Salah and Mane during their successful spell at Anfield, admitted that tensions often arose between the pair and that he had to intervene to cool things down.

During their time together, Liverpool achieved great success, winning the UEFA Champions League in 2018/19 and the English Premier League title the following year. The attacking trio of Firmino, Salah, and Mane were instrumental in these triumphs, scoring a combined total of 352 goals across all competitions between 2017 and 2022.

However, the competition to be the top scorer sometimes strained the relationship between Salah and Mane. One notable incident occurred during a match against Burnley in 2019 when Salah opted to shoot instead of passing to Mane, resulting in a missed opportunity. This incident, according to Firmino, was just the tip of the iceberg, as tensions had been building since the previous season.

In his new book, ‘Sí Señor: My Liverpool Years,’ Firmino revealed that he felt it was his duty to defuse the situation between Salah and Mane. He described himself as the mediator, always trying to pour water on the fire rather than fueling it. Despite their differences, Firmino emphasized that Salah and Mane always maintained a professional attitude and never severed ties.

Since leaving Liverpool in the summer to join Al Alhi in the Saudi Pro League, Firmino has become an opponent of Mane, who recently signed for Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo’s team. Speculation about the relationship between Salah and Mane has persisted, and Firmino’s insights shed light on the tensions that existed in the dressing room.

As Liverpool prepares to face Toulouse in the UEFA Europa League, Salah will be back in action. The Egyptian forward will be hoping to continue his impressive form and help his team secure victory.