Chelsea right-back Reece James claims that Liverpool forward Sadio Mane is the “toughest” opposing player he has faced in his career so far.

The England international played up against Mane when the Reds won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge back in September, as well as the 5-3 at Anfield at the back end of last season. James says it was very difficult playing against one of the best players in their position in world football:

“My toughest opponent has been Sadio Mane. He is one of the best wingers in the league, if not the world. He is strong, quick, good on the ball and one of the toughest to play against, and then you also have (Mane’s Liverpool team-mate) Andy Robertson on the outside.”

To be fair to James, very few right-backs are able to cope Mane. The Senegalese international has pace, good ball control and he is two-footed so it is almost impossible for a defender to guess which way he will go.

He has scored five goals and provided three assists in just 11 games so far this season, and he will be looking to get on the scoresheet once again after the international break when Liverpool face Leicester on Saturday week.