Sadio Mane's development during his time at Liverpool has Jamie Carragher in the belief that the forward is now among the elite in world football.

Mane won the Premier League Golden Boot last season and has followed that up with more excellent performances in 2019-20 as the European champions sit eight points clear at the top of the table.

After arriving at Anfield from Southampton in the summer of 2016, Mane has continued on a trajectory that sets him apart from others, according to Carragher.

The former defender told Liverpoolfc.com: "Even after the first couple of games, I said Mane, probably along with Raheem Sterling, was possibly the best left winger in the world.

"I absolutely love him, he's my favourite player at the club. He's brilliant, he's always got a smile on his face, always there, always gets knocked about, gets goals, setting others up.

"He's the one who came in at the very start under Klopp, his first real big signing, and I think ever since then he's just been getting better and better. He's just a machine."

Mane switched to the No.10 shirt prior to the start of the 2018-19 season, with Carragher believing the 27-year-old's abilities are similar to those of a former occupant of the squad number.

"I always talk about the teams I played in never possibly had, say, a John Barnes, that world-class wide player," he added. "But I think Liverpool have got that now.

"I think that's what's making the difference why they are so good and look in a great position to hopefully go on and win the first Premier League.

"If you start comparing people like Sadio Mane to John Barnes then that shows how well he's doing."