Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher has likened Sadio Mane to Reds legend John Barnes.

Mane has been a vital member of Liverpool's famous front three alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino since joining from Southampton in 2016.

Carragher told Liverpoolfc.com: "Even after the first couple of games, I said Mane, probably along with Raheem Sterling, was possibly the best left winger in the world.

"I absolutely love him, he's my favourite player at the club. He's brilliant, he's always got a smile on his face, always there, always gets knocked about, gets goals, setting others up.

"He's the one who came in at the very start under Klopp, his first real big signing, and I think ever since then he's just been getting better and better. He's just a machine."

"I always talk about the teams I played in never possibly had, say, a John Barnes, that world-class wide player," he added. "But I think Liverpool have got that now.

"I think that's what's making the difference why they are so good and look in a great position to hopefully go on and win the first Premier League.

"If you start comparing people like Sadio Mane to John Barnes then that shows how well he's doing."