Ian Wright has praised Sadio Mane by claiming the Liverpool forward came to the fore when his side needed him most.
Mane admitted at the start of this month that he had no explanation for why he was suffering the 'worst season' of his Reds career.
At that point in the season, the Senegalese international had only managed to score 14 times in 44 appearances.
That return was a far cry from the previous two seasons, when Mane had been instrumental in helping his side to Champions League and Premier League glory.
But in the final few weeks of the season, and with his side chasing a place in the top four, Mane once again showed his class.
The former Southampton man bagged three goals in his side’s final five matches, including a brace on the final day of the season against Crystal Palace.
That win at Anfield helped ensure the Reds secured a third-place finish in the table, and Wright has spoken of his surprise that some opted to question the forward during the season.
“Mane ended up getting them where they needed to be. I was reading stuff where fans were having a go at Mane, I couldn’t believe it, especially when you look at the amount of time it took Firmino to get going,” the former Arsenal man told his Wrighty’s House podcast.
“Mane for major parts of the season last season and the season before, where they only missed out [on the league] by one point.
“What that man has done for that club. For him to get the stick he was getting, I don’t believe it. I think that must be bots. There’s no way Liverpool fans would be having a go at that man.
“He came to the fore again when Liverpool needed him, scored a couple of goals, to finish it off.”
