Tuesday 13 December 2016 12:40, UK
Sadio Mane admits criticism of Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius is "normal" in football, and that his reaction is more important.
Mane's team-mate has come under fire for his displays of late having joined the Reds from Mainz in the summer and taking the No 1 spot off Belgian Simon Mignolet.
But the Senegalese winger, who has himself impressed since a move from Southampton, says the players who train with Karius day in, day out, know his qualities.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "Everybody knows this is football and [criticism] can happen. We always train together and know his quality, what he can do to help the team.
"I think he will keep doing his best for the team, and do his best for the next game and keep helping, so what is behind is behind.
"I think in football everybody gets this kind of criticism. The reaction is more important now."
Karius was criticised for his display in Liverpool's 2-2 draw against West Ham on Super Sunday, coming after the 4-3 defeat by Bournemouth last weekend.
It leaves the Reds six points behind leaders Chelsea in the title race, and Mane admits the games where Liverpool create all the chances but still fail to pick up maximum points can frustrate both him and his team-mates.
"I'm not frustrated about Chelsea [leading], but maybe because we didn't win the games we should win. But it can happen in football, so it does not affect anyone in the team. We're going to do our best to win the next game.
"It's not easy. If you think you can win the game after thinking you can win the game, scoring and creating chances, and then not winning. Of course it's not easy, but we cannot focus on that, because we have so many games left in the season, it's long, and we try to take it game-by-game.
"Of course [I get frustrated] in those types of games. Not only me because we know our quality, we know we should win the game, and if we didn't win it's no problem, we have to focus on the next games."
Mane himself has scored seven goals in his 14 appearances for Liverpool, and says he is improving at the Anfield club, insisting they can beat anyone on their day.
Asked if he was becoming a better player at Liverpool: "Yes, I'm trying harder in training to get better and better. I'm looking forward to getting better in the next game. I am very happy to score and happy for my team.
"I think we can do everything. I think we can beat anyone, so anything is possible. For the moment the season is too long, and we will take it game-by-game and try to win."
