Mane 'very happy' at Anfield despite exit rumours

Sadio Mane insists he is content at Liverpool despite reported interest from Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

The Senegalese forward, 30, nodded home a second-half winner as the Reds laboured to a crucial 2-1 victory at Aston Villa on Tuesday evening.

It was a result which moved Jurgen Klopp's men level on points with Manchester City in a title race which looks destined to go to the wire.

Mane has enjoyed another fine personal campaign with 22 goals across all competitions but his future beyond this season remains in doubt.

His current contract expires next summer and several of Europe’s biggest clubs are sniffing — but the man himself suggests he is not actively looking to leave Merseyside.

Asked about his future after the Villa win, Mane said: "I am happy here. I think when we win trophies, I am happier! 

"But I am trying to enjoy every moment, trying to assist my team-mates and I think the boys make it a lot easier for me, and I am very happy."

Those words will be music to the ears of Mane’s colleagues, with skipper Jordan Henderson lauding Liverpool’s match winner.

"His performances are always incredible," Henderson said. "The amount of work he does for the team, on and off the ball as well. 

"Defending at the end, winning the ball high, his quality around the box and you saw that with his finish. He got us the three points."

Diaz delivers again

Laying on the cross for Mane’s winner was Luis Diaz, who notched a fifth direct goal involvement in as many Premier League games.

Diaz, 25, has also netted crucial Champions League goals against Benfica and Villarreal and the January addition has been key to sustaining Liverpool’s remarkable Quadruple bid.

Talking about the Colombian’s quality, Mane said: "I think my goal was possible because it was a good cross from Diaz. 

"I just needed to put it into the net, even without power, I usually try and score those and normally I do. 

"He [Diaz] is a very good player. We know each other very well, we train every day and when he has got the ball I know where he is going to put it."

Diaz’s delivery — cutting back on to his right foot before finding Mane in the box — was a moment of quality which left his boss drooling.

Klopp said: "The whole situation was top class. Luis, crossing at a moment when nobody expected a cross. Apart from Sadio maybe. It’s a situation where you can make a step and shoot yourself.

"We did that [shooting from distance] too often against Tottenham. We didn’t have time to train, to work on it, but we had time to talk about it.

"I’m really happy that in this moment we pretended to shoot and cross. It was a really good moment and what a finish."

The Reds face Chelsea in the FA Cup final this Saturday, with the Wembley showpiece a 4.45pm kick-off.