With Liverpool's form finally looking more akin to Jürgen Klopp's sides of old, the name Sadio Mané is being thrown around a little less often. Despite missing a huge chunk of the Bundesliga campaign with injury, pundits inevitably questioned whether he was the missing link as the Reds toiled.
Now, a new Liverpool front three is emerging, meaning Mané can be left alone as just another great chapter in the club's history. But he is still getting mentions from some unlikely places, with José Mourinho bringing him up in the latest Roma press conference.
Elsewhere, Liverpool's rivals closer to home are facing something of a transfer blow, with Manchester United set to be on the end of another setback. Having salvaged some pride in the Europa League, the week has not quite been a total write-off, but the latest news will be particularly unwelcome after the humiliation at Anfield.
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Here, Liverpool.com takes a scan around the other big sides in the Premier League and around Europe to take a look at the news going on at the other clubs.
Blow for Manchester UnitedIt was a cathartic midweek for Manchester United, as Erik ten Hag's team responded to the hiding at the hands of Liverpool by beating Real Betis 4-1 in the Europa League. But while progress in that competition will be welcome at Old Trafford, it is ultimately not the one they want to be winning.
Unless Liverpool has triggered an as-yet-unseen league collapse, Manchester United looks a safe bet to be in the Champions League next season, and it will no doubt look to strengthen the squad again in the summer to deal with that reality. It may even wish to return to last summer's transfer saga, the pursuit of Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong.
However, it seems Manchester United has suffered a blow on that particular transfer front, with De Jong making his feelings felt in no uncertain terms:
"Last summer I was always calm as I knew I would stay at Barca and I never changed my mind," De Jong told RAC1 when asked about a possible Premier League switch.
"I always dreamed of playing for Barca and I want to succeed here. I want to continue here."
Liverpool.com says: It isn't a case of De Jong or bust for Manchester United, who would be best served by simply walking away from this one now. The chase for a player who clearly does not want to leave is at risk of becoming embarrassing.
That being said, it's understandable for Ten Hag to be disappointed — a reunion with one of his Ajax stars was clearly a prospect he relished, and as this transfer becomes less and less viable, it is an undoubted blow in his side's quest to unseat Liverpool from its perch and return to the very top.
Mourinho on ManéTrust José Mourinho to have a complaint to make straight after beating Real Sociedad in the Europa League. But while that in itself isn't at all surprising, not many would have expected former Liverpool and current Bayern Munich star Sadio Mané to get a mention.
Speaking in the aftermath of Roma's 2-0 win, via the Daily Mail, Mourinho reflected on the depth enjoyed by Bayern:
"Against PSG, Bayern had Serge Gnabry, Sadio Mané and Leroy Sané on the bench. Just one of them would have been enough for me! 'Like this, I could have replaced Paulo Dybala and perhaps score one more goal."
Liverpool.com says: It's true that Bayern Munich has enviable depth at its disposal, even if Mourinho picked a seemingly odd time to mention it. But the former Chelsea boss isn't doing too badly for himself with the tools he has to use, having guided Roma to the Europa Conference League last campaign, and progressed well in this season's Europa League.
As for Mané, he is not accustomed to being left on the bench for such big occasions, although he is only recently back from a long-term injury that kept him out of the World Cup. He did make it on for the win against PSG, and will be hoping to play a bigger part as Bayern Munich progresses, hopefully emulating his Liverpool feat and winning the Champions League.
