How many trophies will the Egyptian and the Senegalese have added to their list in a month?

The season for the two Reds is dizzying, as money-time approaches: here are the two Liverpool friends two games away from a new Champions League title after 2019, 90 minutes from a Cup England against Chelsea on May 14, and five games from a Premier League title, even if it will be necessary to dislodge Manchester City, leader with a point lead.

The two men already have an English League Cup in their hands, and Mané also offered the African Cup of Nations against his best enemy in early February.

And both can dream of the Ballon d'Or...

Senegalese striker Sadio Mané admires the African Cup of Nations trophy, after the victory in the final against Egypt (0-0, 4-2 on pens), on February 6, 2022 in Yaoundé CHARLY TRIBALLEAU AFP / Archives

But it is in the Champions League that the duo shines the most in the eyes of Europe, with a new decisive performance against the impenetrable Yellow Submarine of Villarreal, scorer of the great Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.

On Wednesday in their garden at Anfield, they too looked for the entrance to the Spanish wall for a long time.

The Senegalese first fumbled by missing a control then a header in the area (8th, 12th), and Salah missed the target with a curled shot (27th) before seeing his recovery blocked by Lo Celso (34th), just after an attempt by Mané, also blocked by Raul Albiol (33rd).

Liverpool's Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah attempts a curling shot against the Villareal defense in their Champions League semi-final first leg on April 27, 2022 at Anfield Road Stadium Oli SCARFF AFP

But the complicity of the two attackers, without debate on the field if not clear outside, ended up paying, when Mané, in position of N.9, came to conclude a small deep pass from Salah for the second goal. (56th).

Linked destinies

The Senegalese scored his 4th goal in C1 this season, but also his sixth in his last six starts in all competitions.

Liverpool's Senegalese striker Sadio Mané, congratulated by Colombian midfielder Luis Diaz, after scoring the second goal against Villareal, in their Champions League semi-final first leg, on April 27, 2022 at the Stade d' Anfield Road LLUIS GENE AFP

Enough to deserve a sustained ovation in the 73rd minute, when he was replaced, and a nice hug from his coach Jürgen Klopp, who came to try to console his N.10 disappointed to be the first to give up his place in this starry encounter.

On the lawn, Salah remained there until the 90th minute, as in the previous three matches, a sign that the Egyptian remains Klopp's No.1 choice on the front of the Liverpool attack.

The statistics indeed speak for themselves: Salah has scored 30 goals and 14 assists in all club competitions this season, against 20 goals and three assists for Mané, who nevertheless won their two fratricidal duels, in the CAN final. and in the barrage for the Mondial-2022.

The joy of Liverpool's Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah, after scoring the 4th goal against Manchester United, during the 30th day of the Premier League, April 19, 2022 at Anfield Road Stadium Oli SCARFF AFP / Archives

The context is therefore paradoxical, with two players whose relationship sometimes seems distant, but whose impact on the game of their team is total...

"There is no doubt that they are not only close, but they are well brought up, they are good boys and good human beings (...) It is certain that Sadio and +Mo+ consider themselves as friends," Klopp said recently.

Liverpool's Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah is replaced by Senegalese Sadio Mané during the Premier League Round 31 match against Watford on April 2, 2022 at Anfield Road Stadium Paul ELLIS AFP / Archives

Even the contract of the two attackers is intimately linked: it expires in June 2023 for each of them, and their future from next year is a huge question mark as the Reds transfer window approaches.

Until then, however, there are a few matches to be played for the Anfield duo, starting with the return leg in Spain on Tuesday.

A few goals to score, too, and a few trophies to lift.

© 2022 AFP