Sadio Mane scores in Bayern Munich defeat that could change Jude Bellingham’s reality for Liverpool

The future of Jude Bellingham’s Borussia Dortmund remains unknown as we approach the end of the season

Sadio Mane recovered from his recent struggles by entering the scoresheet for Bayern Munich on Saturday afternoon.

It’s been a torrid few weeks for the former Liverpool star, who has struggled to regain form since he returned from a long layoff in February before becoming involved in a controversial altercation with team-mate Leroy Sane. The notion that Thomas Tuchel would sack the 31-year-old this summer is seen as a surplus player and has even been mooted.

Mane punched the German winger in the lip following Bayern’s Champions League quarter-final defeat to Manchester City, earning him a hefty fine and a ban from selection for a league match against Hoffenheim.

The Senegal international was back on track personally this afternoon, ending a 10-game goalless run at club level after opening the scoring in a Bundesliga match against Mainz today. The positive ended there, however, as Bayern picked up three injuries in the second half to suffer a damaging 3-1 loss.

This result, which not only added to Bayern’s problems after leaving Europe, put Borussia Dortmund in control of the league title race. Dortmund made the most of their rivals’ slide on Saturday and responded with a 4-0 home win against Eintracht Frankfurt to take a point clear at the top.

The goalscorer for Jurgen Klopp’s former employers was none other than Jude Bellingham, a player who has remained linked with Liverpool for the past 18 months. News that the Reds have reduced their interest in the teenage midfielder at this stage has not gone down well with fans – but could a scenario unfold that gives Liverpool a second chance to land the born youngster? in Birmingham? Should Dortmund become champions for the first time in over a decade, at a time when Bayern are seemingly in decline, Bellingham may decide to wait for the right moment before opting for the next step in his burgeoning career.

A recent Times report suggested this could prove to be the reality of the situation, with the 19-year-old expected to stay at his current club and re-evaluate in 2024, rather than be “pushed to a step which is not quite right”. ‘. .

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Such an attitude may keep alive the hopes Liverpool fans will nurture of one day seeing Bellingham in a Liverpool shirt – and Dortmund’s resurgence only furthers the notion that the midfielder who should win world football for the next decade will dominate, perhaps doubts. a hasty flight to the exit doors.

Also…

Roberto Firmino reportedly got what Sadio Mané never did at Liverpool after facing Jurgen Klopp

Roberto Firmino is set to leave Liverpool this summer but is currently on the sidelines with injury a few weeks before the end of the Premier League season.

Whatever happens in the summer transfer window, it is now certain that Liverpool will lose a club legend from their ranks.

Last month it was confirmed that Roberto Firmino will leave Anfield when his contract expires at the end of the season. The Brazilian has been a Liverpool player since signing a $36m (£29m/€32m) deal with Hoffenheim in the summer of 2015, almost eight years ago.

Although it cost Liverpool $36m to sign Firmino, the truth is that it was still a bargain. In the eight years since the 31-year-old’s signing, he has been a key part of Jurgen Klopp’s side that have won every major trophy the club has to offer.

Sadly, Liverpool’s Firmino era is coming to an end this summer. What the club will have planned to fill the void it will leave in the squad remains to be seen, but for now the emotions of the departure of a club legend will be on people’s minds.

Firmino isn’t the only Liverpool player without a contract. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, Naby Keïta and Adrián are all reportedly free agents at the moment, but so far only Firmino is confirmed as a starter when his contract expires.

One of the latest rumors says that Firmino will play his football next season. According to a report from the Daily Mail, Firmino has already agreed to sign for Barcelona this summer. With Firmino in the final six months of his contract, he is free to talk to clubs outside England about a possible move this summer. He will be a free agent, meaning he could move to a new club on a free transfer.

Whether or not this report is true remains to be seen, but regardless, it doesn’t change Liverpool’s position with Firmino. The Reds will be hoping the Brazilian’s final weeks on Merseyside will be worthy of what he deserves, having given to the club since joining in 2015.

It was dealt a blow on Friday, however, when Klopp confirmed that Firmino had suffered an injury. Firmino has a hamstring problem and is expected to be sidelined for some time.

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Firmino missed Saturday’s clash against Nottingham Forest through injury and will also miss the next two games against West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur. If that were the case, Firmino would have just four games left at Anfield before being knocked out.

While Firmino is unlikely to spend much time on the touchlines again as he leaves this summer, any absence at this stage is sad for anyone linked to the club. Fans will surely want to give him a send-off worthy of his legendary status. It would have been the same for Sadio Mané last year if we had known beforehand that he was leaving the club. Ultimately, it wasn’t until weeks after the end of the season that Mane was revealed he was leaving Anfield.

Things are different this time around and Liverpool fans have the good fortune to pay their respects to Firmino before he officially leaves the club. Considering how long he’s been on Merseyside and what he’s achieved, you can imagine it’s going to be very special.

Liverpool’s final home game of the season is against Aston Villa on May 20. Before that, there are more games against Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Brentford at Anfield but it’s already confirmed that he will miss the Spurs game.

Expect a rendition of ‘Si Señor’ to be sung by the crowd at Anfield more than once over the next few home games, to say the least.