Former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas hailed Liverpool's Sadio Mane during the Reds' chaotic 4-3 Champions League victory over Red Bull Salzburg .
Mane was facing his former club in the clash at Anfield, and opened the scoring when he exchanged passes with Roberto Firmino and slotted home, before choosing not to celebrate against his former employers.
A brilliant team move was then finished off by Andy Robertson for the second, and Mohamed Salah made it 3-0 after visiting goalkeeper Cican Stankovic spilled Firmino's header following a Mane cross.
However, Salzburg then came roaring back in a remarkable comeback.
Hwang Hee-chan reduced the deficit before the break with a fierce finish after beating Virgil van Dijk, and Jesse Marsch's men then shocked Anfield with the way they emerged for the second period.
The excellent Takumi Minamino volleyed home to make it 3-2, and then goal machine Erling Braut Haaland grabbed the equaliser on the hour mark after coming off the bench.
Liverpool weren't to be denied though, with Salah adding his second in front of the Kop to make it 4-3, as the Reds eventually saw off their spirited visitors.
And while Salah's brace and Robertson's excellent goal caught the eye, it was the display of Mane which most impressed Fabregas, these days of Monaco.
The former Southampton forward got Lionel Messi's vote in the recent FIFA Best Awards, and Messi's former Barca teammate Fabregas tweeted: "Mane for me is top 3 players in the world and has been for a while. Top top level."
Mane shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Reds teammate Salah and Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last season, while his strike against Salzburg was his seventh in 10 appearances in all competitions this season.
