'Winning is more important' - Mane says Liverpool are not focused on records

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'Winning is more important' - Mane says Liverpool are not focused on records image

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane insists the newly-crowned Premier League champions are simply focused on winning matches and not thinking about breaking records.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have already written their names into the history books by sealing a first league title in 30 years , but they also have the opportunity to break a string of records and put the gloss on an already memorable season if they maintain their form in the remaining six matches.

Sunday’s 2-0 victory against Aston Villa moved the Reds to 89 points, just 11 points shy of the Premier League record of 100 set by Manchester City in 2017-18.

They need just three more wins to equal City’s record of 32 victories in a single season, achieved in each of the past two campaigns.

The Reds could also become the first team to win every single home game in a Premier League season, with just one more win needed to equal the current record of 18 home victories in a single campaign.

Mane, though, insists that such statistics are far from the players’ thoughts and will only ever be considered at the end of the season.

"For us right now it is most important to win games, then you can think about records,” Mane told Sky Sports.  

"We have important games and we will try to play game by game. It won't be easy but that is the Premier League - it is always difficult.”

Mane scored his 18th goal of the campaign as Liverpool bounced back from their 4-0 thrashing at Manchester City with a battling win over Villa at Anfield.

They were made to work hard for the win, though, with Mane’s opener only coming after 71 minutes before substitute Curtis Jones sealed the points late on.

"We pushed as a team until the end and created some chances. It wasn't an easy game but at least we deserved these three points,” added Mane.

"I think sometimes you can't expect always to score five or four against a good opponent. They were really organised and we were playing patiently until the gaps opened and we scored the two goals.”

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