There is a professionalism to Arne Slot’s Liverpool that creates composure and coolness regardless of the scenario. It is a core aspect of the membership’s success.
Liverpool have fallen behind on quite a few events this season, however far as a rule, have overturned the deficit and strengthened their title-chasing declare.
Because the fog hung above Anfield’s pitch, the Reds struggled to attain focus within the first half, earlier than Slot’s tweaks and half-time workforce speak triggered a trendy second-half efficiency.
The frontline was firing, although not fairly throughout all cylinders. Darwin Nunez continues to be an enigma, and it is starting to appear like Slot is becoming a member of Jurgen Klopp in struggling to crack the nut.
Darwin Nunez’s efficiency vs Leicester
The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle handed Nunez a 6/10 match ranking for his labours, praising his ‘ample effort’ however noting that he did not affect all that a lot regardless of his huffing and puffing.
Darwin Nunez – Stats vs Leicester (26/12/24) |
|
---|---|
Match Stats |
# |
Minutes performed |
78′ |
Objectives |
0 |
Assists |
0 |
Touches |
25 |
Photographs (heading in the right direction) |
4 (1) |
Correct passes |
10/19 (53%) |
Key passes |
0 |
Dribbles (accomplished) |
0 (0) |
Whole duels (gained) |
5 (2) |
Stats by way of Sofascore |
There simply is not fairly sufficient on present from this excellent striker, this agonising and irritating striker. We all know you could have it in you, Anfield appears to cry. We all know that you’ve got the instruments to rival the best marksmen throughout the continent.
However Slot’s persistence is certain to be carrying skinny, and and not using a dramatic upswing, the Dutch coach could urge FSG to peruse the market on the finish of the season.
It was Nunez who was caught offside when Cody Gakpo fired his second of the evening house, prompting a VAR intervention. Too usually has the Uruguay star been the weak hyperlink in Slot’s frontline, too usually has he didn’t harness and streamline his frenetic vitality.
It is a harsh factor to face, however Liverpool followers ought to acknowledge that Nunez is into his third marketing campaign on Merseyside since signing in a deal rising to a club-record £85m.
He is notched 37 objectives from 119 matches in complete, lacking 50 huge probabilities within the Premier League alone, as per Sofascore. How for much longer can he toil up high earlier than it’s accepted that he won’t ever be the free-scoring quantity 9 that Liverpool have to ease Salah’s burden?
Liverpool want one thing new, one thing that may breathe recent life into an assault blessed with an abundance of high quality.
Liverpool eyeing new ahead
As per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, there may be “a robust probability” that Randal Kolo Muani will transfer to the Premier League this winter, having been ostracised from Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain aspect.
Liverpool are among the many contenders, with Plettenberg revealing that Liverpool have already gathered info on the striker’s scenario, contemplating whether or not to make their transfer in January.
Arsenal, Manchester United and a number of abroad suitors are eager, and on condition that the France worldwide joined PSG for a £77m charge, bagging him on mortgage might be a deal to set off a brand new degree of offensive fluency down Anfield Highway.
What Randal Kolo Muani would carry to Liverpool
Described as “very full” by Kylian Mbappe, Kolo Muani was one of many hottest commodities in Europe throughout his time with Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, however he is fallen by the wayside with the imperious French champions, scoring solely 11 objectives from 54 appearances for the reason that begin of the 2023/24 marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, Kolo Muani’s a menace, and whereas he is been shackled to a bit-part position this time period, beginning simply two occasions in Ligue 1, there’s little query that he has the various properties to reach the Premier League.
Certainly: as per FBref, the 26-year-old ranks among the many high 12% of forwards throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous yr for assists, the highest 3% for profitable take-ons and the highest 14% for tackles per 90, showcasing his aptitude and completeness.
A profitable take-on is recorded when a participant beats their opponent by straight carrying the ball previous them whereas retaining possession.
Curiously, FBref record Nunez as considered one of Kolo Muani’s most statistically comparable gamers, suggesting that Liverpool may combine a participant endowed with related athletic qualities however hopefully a better diploma of ending accuracy and composure.
A flexible ahead, Kolo Muani would be part of a fluid Liverpool frontline that’s interchangeable and electrifying via such dynamism, however his principal position may be discovered at quantity 9 and this makes an attention-grabbing touch upon Slot’s tactical plans.
Randal Kolo Muani: Profession Stats by Place |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Place |
Apps |
Objectives |
Assists |
Centre-forward |
145 |
50 |
34 |
Proper winger |
20 |
5 |
3 |
Left winger |
12 |
5 |
1 |
Attacking midfield |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Stats by way of Transfermarkt |
Final season, Kolo Muani solely scored 9 objectives and assisted six extra throughout 40 fixtures, however he had entered a testing atmosphere that did not recognise his qualities. Certainly, he racked up 40 aim contributions with Frankfurt throughout the 2022/23 marketing campaign.
His medical edge from seasons previous does counsel that he might need the instruments to take Nunez’s place. In any case, he scored 15 objectives throughout the 2022/23 Bundesliga season however solely missed 14 huge probabilities.
With Salah to his proper and Gakpo and Luis Diaz jockeying for a spot on the left, the electrical Frenchman may simply have the instruments to craft a profitable Premier League profession, providing extra along with his motion and physicality than Nunez, who appears to float via matches like a rogue piece of flotsam beneath Slot’s wing.
It is one thing of a danger on condition that he is flattered to deceive at PSG, however on a mortgage cope with the choice for buy, this might be an immense signing for Slot, who stands pretty much as good an opportunity of anybody in sparking the fireplace in such a ahead’s stomach.
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