Mane's the main man for Pool, says Fowler
Liverpool legend tips Senegalese for great things; confident of a win at the Bridge
CHELSEA v LIVERPOOL
(Tomorrow, 2.30am, Singtel TV Ch 103 & StarHub TV Ch 228, ELEVEN Plus HD)
Liverpool have had no shortage of stars over the years but, in Sadio Mane, club great Robbie Fowler thinks they have a potential game-changer on their hands.
The 24-year-old forward arrived from Southampton in June for a fee of £30 million ($54.1m) and made an instant impact.
In four matches, he has scored two goals and set up three.
Fowler, 41, who was a speaker at the Sports Matters conference at Marina Bay Sands, said yesterday: "We have got a very good squad.
"But, by far, the player who has made the biggest impact, and I can see him going on to bigger and better things with Liverpool, is Sadio Mane.
"He is a wonderful player.
"He excites you. He is one of those players who gets you on the edge of your seat and makes you stand up and cheer.
"Potentially, he's a real superstar."
The Reds will be looking for more magic from the Senegal international tomorrow morning (Singapore time), when they visit Stamford Bridge for an intriguing encounter with Chelsea.
Under new manager Antonio Conte, the Blues have enjoyed an excellent start to the season, collecting 10 points from four matches to sit second in the Premier League table.
Liverpool have impressed with their brand of attacking football, especially in their opening win over Arsenal and in last week's 4-1 victory over defending champions Leicester.
Inconsistency, though, continues to plague them, after a 2-0 loss to Burnley last month.
Fowler, though, believes Liverpool can surprise the hosts.
VERY GOOD CHANCE
"We have got a very good chance," he said.
"We have started the season well. We have gone to Arsenal and got the three points, and probably should have gotten the three points at Tottenham.
"I love playing Chelsea early in the season, before any team have got any rhythm and are into the swing of things.
"It's probably a good time to play them. We're obviously quietly confident."
A win in London will surely add to the belief in the red half of Merseyside that the club are on the verge of something good under the guidance of 49-year-old German manager Juergen Klopp.
The mood in the camp has been totally transformed since his arrival last October, and the renewed confidence can be seen in their run to the final of the League Cup and Europa League last term.
Fowler paid tribute to the former Borussia Dortmund coach, saying: "What he's brought to Liverpool is belief.
"Maybe we struggled in the past when we have not really got to the heights we feel we could get to as a club, but Klopp is a proven manager.
"He has a successful record and he is the man who will bring the best out of everyone.
"He is very charismatic.
"He knows what he wants. I'm confident that he will deliver."
Already, Klopp has produced several memorable occasions at Anfield, with the dramatic comeback victory over Dortmund in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final last April arguably the most outstanding.
After the game, he didn't forget to credit the Liverpool fans for being their 12th-man role, as his side clawed back from a 3-1 deficit to win the game 4-3 (5-4 on aggregate).
Klopp has made no secret of his admiration of Anfield, and the magical Kop end of the stadium.
Legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, who managed the club from 1959 to 1974, once remarked that the Kop was capable of sucking the ball into the goal.
Fowler, who scored 183 goals in 369 appearances for Liverpool, agreed.
Said the former England striker: "At times, it feels like that.
"Any Liverpool player will tell you it (the Kop) is really where to go.
"When anyone goes to Anfield, everyone talks about the atmosphere and the Kop. And it's not just the Liverpool players, it's also the opposition.
"It's down to the fans, they are the ones who make the incredible noise and have got behind the team on many, many occasions, especially on European nights.
"Long may that continue."
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now