Has Sadio Mane cost Liverpool the Premier League title?

That's the opinion of Noel Whelan, who told Football Insider he thinks Mane's poor goalscoring form over the last 9 games has cost the Reds the Premier League title.

He's got 9 goals and an assist in all competitions this season but over the last nine matches, he has battled to impact the game and his finishing has fallen off a cliff.

The situation peaked at Leicester City, when he missed a clear cut opportunity by blasting the ball over the bar, displaying worryingly poor composure and from that point on, his confidence was shot.

Whelan says Mane is to blame for poor Liverpool form

“He started off the season really well,” he told Football Insider. “Last season, we didn’t see the best of him. I thought he had a really poor season compared to what he’s capable of.

“We thought, right, he’s one of these players who needs the fans. He puffs his chest out, knows the fans are there, and becomes a better player.

“He’s just gone missing at a really critical time, right around Christmas. He’s got to be putting some of these chances away.

“You need your big players to step up, just as we’re seeing with Man City right now. They’re full steam ahead in this title race right now, and Liverpool need that from Mane.”

Mane needs to do better but it's not all his fault

Sure. A few more goals over the last nine games from Sadio Mane might have been the difference between where Liverpool are now and Manchester City running away with the title but it's a team game.

The Reds, much like many other sides in the Premier League, are battling with an increase in COVID-19 cases while injuries haven't magically disappeared either but to place the burden of the blame on Mane for Liverpool's poor form is unfair.

He's underperforming but Klopp hasn't had the options available to him to rotate the Senegal international out of the side to give him a break and now he is set to head off to AFCON.

The 29-year-old shines for Senegal at every tournament he plays in so hopefully he shines and regains some much-needed confidence before returning to Merseyside.

His £200,000/week Liverpool contract expires in 18 months and there are major question marks over whether or not he should be given a new deal and his current form isn't helping his case, unfortunately.

As he nears his 30th birthday the club will become more and more unwilling to hand him a massive new contract if he can't find the Midas Touch he had in the 2019/20 season.