Sadio Mane knows Liverpool's attack needs to step up a gear this season.

Much of the external praise for the Reds last season focused on the exhilarating attacking play he was firmly a part of, while this term it is the team's defensive foundations drawing plaudits.

And if Mane and co still need to find their most fluent football, he accepts the challenge.

“It can happen sometimes," he said. “Maybe in a few games we haven't played as we can, and expect to, play but we have to deal with it and try to work as hard as we can, and push individually to do better again.

“We could do better – that's part of football. We'd love to do better for the team and the club. We have had a better start than last season, now we have important games coming and we're going to try to do our best."