This article is part of Football FanCast's Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba's haircuts to League Two relegation battles...

It has been some 12 months for Sadio Mane.

The Senegal international was in stunning form last term as has scored 26 goals in all competitions. The 22 he bagged in the league were even enough to see him win the division's Golden Boot alongside Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Not only that, he also scored four times during Liverpool's Champions League run, which saw them lift the trophy in Madrid against Tottenham.

He has carried on that form so far this term as well. In 21 matches for Liverpool this campaign, he has 13 goals, whilst he has also provided seven assists as well. In regards to the latter, he has already passed his tally for last year, and we are not yet halfway through the season.

In November, he was in particularly impressive form domestically, scoring three goals and providing one assist. One of those strikes was a vital last-minute winner against Aston Villa at Villa Park as well, showing he has the ability to score at the most crucial of times.

His performances during the month have earned him a nomination for the Premier League Player of the Month award. The other nominees are Tottenham pair Dele Alli and Son Heung-min, Leicester duo Caglar Soyuncu and Jamie Vardy, as well as Wolves' Raul Jimenez and Sheffield United's Lys Mousset.

It remains to be seen whether he picks up this award - Vardy did grab three goals and two assists himself - but the Senegal international is surely in line for the big one at the end of the campaign. Whilst the 32-year-old does have more goals so far, Mane has contributed double his three assists.

He has arguably been the Reds most important player this term - he has appeared in all 15 league matches after all - and is one of the main reasons why they are eight points clear at the top of the table and have won all but one match. As we saw with his display against Everton, where he scored once and provided two assists in the absence of Salah and Roberto Firmino, he has the ability to dictate games.

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Liverpool look like they are on their way to a first title in 30 years and, if that they do end up in first place, then £108m-valued Mane - as per Transfermarkt - has already made a case to win himself the Player of the Year award. As long as he keeps playing to the same standard, it may even be a given, and it would be an accolade he fully deserves.

Meanwhile, Liverpool fans react to this man's performance against Everton.