Sadio Mane offers a quizzical look when the inevitable style issue is raised ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Manchester United.

Once you have played for an attacking manager like Jurgen Klopp, could you imagine adjusting to the conservative approach that typifies Jose Mourinho’s recent meetings with Liverpool?

“Don’t you prefer to watch attacking football, too? It is more enjoyable,” Mane responds. “For sure. I prefer Liverpool. The way we play is good for all of our players.

“It is not just me who would think like that. But you have to respect a different strategy. Not everyone can play the same way. I would prefer to play for and against an attacking team, but I am now used to playing against defensive teams. Most play that way against us now.

“I have played in a defensive formation - I had to learn this way when I was at an academy in Senegal - so it is not a problem, but for me it was always better to play attacking football. For other players, maybe it is different.

“If they defend deep it can be good for us. It means we keep the ball and make them run more. We can bring a high tempo to the game and it is difficult for teams to defend for 90 minutes.