Mane stuns Spurs to get Liverpool back on track

Liverpool - Sadio Mane announced his return to Premier League football in emphatic fashion with both goals in Liverpool's brilliant 2-0 victory over top-four rival Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

The Senegalese forward provided one of several outstanding displays from a Liverpool side which had not previously won a league game in 2017, its worst start to a calendar year since 1954.

Liverpool effectively wrapped up the points, and ended its miserable start to the year, with two goals in three minutes from Mane early in the game.

They were the highlights of a sensational start by Liverpool, which made a mockery of the troubles that have plagued Jurgen Klopp's side since the turn of the year.

The return of Mane from duty at the Africa Cup of Nations was also key to that dramatic improvement as the forward started a home game for the first time since New Year's Eve.

Liverpool had already launched a number of lightning-fast counter-attacks when it finally took the lead after 16 minutes through exactly that tactic.

Georginio Wijnaldum played a magnificent through ball down the middle of the park and Mane easily outpaced Ben Davies before beating Hugo Lloris with a confident 12-yard strike.

Anfield was electrified and the din from the goal celebrations had barely died down before the home supporters had another one to appreciate.

Mane slipped the ball square to Adam Lallana, whose first shot was parried by Lloris.

The Spurs 'keeper recovered well to keep out Roberto Firmino's follow-up attempt, but he could do nothing as Mane showed great technique to hook a shot into the roof of the goal from 8 yards.

The only wonder as Tottenham reached the halftime whistle with only two goals against it was that the London side, which had gone nine games without defeat, was not in even deeper trouble.

Mane might have completed a six-minute hat trick after 22 minutes, but saw his shot deflected wide before his blistering shot from the resulting corner was saved magnificently by Lloris's left hand.

Firmino charged down a Lloris clearance and might have capitalised, Philippe Coutinho rolled a tame shot at the goalkeeper, and full-back Nathaniel Clyne produced a sweet shot that Lloris gathered.

Tottenham looked steadier after the restart, not quite so vulnerable to Liverpool counter-attacks, and Jordan Henderson and Joel Matip both picked up early bookings for fouls as the visitors made forays into the home half.

Harry Kane, totally anonymous in the first half, even hit the post from a Christian Eriksen free-kick, although the move was flagged for a clear offside.

Kane's frustrations spilled over after 66 minutes when he was cautioned by referee Anthony Taylor for a late and nasty trip on Clyne - one of five Spurs players, and eight in total, to be booked.