The formidable attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino propelled Liverpool to the pinnacle of English and European football, but their partnership wasn't without its fiery moments.
A memorable on-pitch disagreement between Salah and Mane during a match at Burnley in 2019 exposed underlying tensions, a story that has now been fully detailed by the man in the middle, Firmino himself.
The Turf Moor Flashpoint
During the early stages of the 2019/20 Premier League season at Turf Moor, the incident that would captivate football fans unfolded. Sadio Mane had already scored but was visibly incensed when teammate Mohamed Salah opted to shoot on goal rather than pass to him, with Mane appearing to be in a superior scoring position.
Mane's fury was so palpable that manager Jurgen Klopp substituted him moments later. The Senegalese star's anger was clear for all to see as he made his way to the bench, gesturing his frustration. The dispute didn't end on the pitch, however, spilling over into the tunnel area after the match.
Firmino: The Firefighter in the Middle
Roberto Firmino, the crucial link in Liverpool's famed front three, found himself positioned directly between his two frustrated teammates. In a moment that quickly went viral, the Brazilian forward flashed a knowing smile at the cameras, a reaction that belied the seriousness of the situation.
In his 2023 autobiography, 'Si Senor: My Liverpool Years', Firmino provided his first-hand account. "James Milner tried to calm him down, but Sadio remained furious, sitting fuming on the bench," Firmino recalled. He described himself as the "firefighter" in these moments, tasked with defusing tensions between the two prolific goalscorers.
Firmino revealed this wasn't an isolated incident, noting that "the mood was heavy; there was none of the joy there should have been at another victory" as they left the field. He acknowledged that while their argument wasn't funny and could have caused problems, his ironic smile was that of someone who knew it wouldn't lead to anything serious.
Mane's Revelation: The Aftermath That Forged a Stronger Bond
In a recent interview with Rio Ferdinand, Sadio Mane offered his perspective on the now-infamous row and its surprising aftermath. "I still remember one game when I was really, really angry because he didn't pass me, he should pass to me," Mane confessed, confirming the Burnley match as the flashpoint.
The resolution came the following day when Salah approached Mane for a conversation. "He said, 'Can we talk?'" Mane recounted. "I said, 'OK, no problem, we go.' And he said, 'You think I didn't want to pass you? But even when I got the ball, I was not thinking or even seeing you to pass. I just got the ball - I want to score.'"
Rather than driving them apart, this honest exchange brought them closer together. Mane revealed, "I think since this day we become even closer." He displayed understanding for Salah's striker instincts, noting that as a forward, "usually when you see the ball, you don't see nobody."
Firmino provided the final word on their relationship dynamic, stating that while they were "never best friends" and each kept to themselves, possibly due to the Egypt-Senegal rivalry in African competitions, "they never severed ties. They always acted with the utmost professionalism."
Together, this devastating forward line delivered both the Premier League title and the Champions League during their five seasons as teammates, proving that professional respect could triumph over personal differences.
