The most worrying thing is that Liverpool actually took a lot of shots against Burnley at the weekend. The xG total of 2.9 was the highest value of the campaign. Still, Arne Slott’s side were fooled and flattered, helping them to a fourth successive draw in the Premier League.
The Reds, who have won five of their last 17 league games, are unlikely to be in the top-flight title chase conversation. Liverpool are in the top four, but just barely.
Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability that a shot will result in a goal.
It’s concerning that Liverpool have struggled to build a team this season, but it’s even more worrying that they’ve actually assembled enough to get the job done and yet they can’t do it meaningfully.
There is a fundamental problem with the slot system and Anfield sides have long failed to produce spectacular performances with any sort of regularity. FSG is starting to feel like they might need to take out their wallets again.
Liverpool in contract talks with elite forward
Mohamed Salah’s return from the African Cup of Nations won’t happen anytime soon, but Salah’s future remains uncertain and he will be 34 at the end of the season anyway.
While Florian Wirtz is coming into his own, Liverpool’s unbalanced and at times inefficient attacking play means they need another strong winger. For example, Kodi Gakpo is struggling with his form on the left wing.
There is always a risk in selling Diaz and not replacing him. Gone is the pace, energy and directness of the Colombians.
But FSG are ready to right their mistakes and TEAMtalk has revealed some exciting news regarding Real Madrid sensation Vincius Junior.
Intermediaries are said to be in contact with Liverpool, as well as Chelsea and Manchester City, regarding a potential 2026 move for the Brazilian.
Vinicius Junior, 25, is one of the best forwards in the world and is thought to be worth £130m. Although he is expensive, Liverpool officials will definitely feel they can make a deal, as Vini’s contract expires in 18 months.
What Vinicius Junior brings to Liverpool
Vinicius Junior has been a key player for Real Madrid since joining from Brazilian club Flamengo in 2018. He was 18 years old and was hailed as one of the greatest talents in world football.
The £347,000-a-week attacker has gone from strength to strength since joining and now ranks alongside the best of the best. For Liverpool, they would be acquiring a hungry elite star in the final third with an attractive style of play and natural potential.
Of course, it wasn’t Vini Junior’s best time in Spain. He is set to leave the club this year before becoming a free agent due to a rift in an important relationship at the club.
The South American, who usually plays on the left, will be competing with Gakpo for the main role in the slot set-up, but after spending incredible years with the La Liga giants, it feels certain that he will win that battle.
League Stats 25/26 – Cody Gakpo vs Vinicius Jr. | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (* per match) | Also | Vinny Jr. |
Match (start) | 20(16) | 20(17) |
the goal | 5 | 5 |
assist | 3 | 5 |
Number of shots (on target)* | 2.5(0.6) | 2.8(1.2) |
missed a big opportunity | 3 | 8 |
Exact path* | 17.9 (80%) | 25.3 (82%) |
Opportunities created* | 1.5 | 1.9 |
Successful. dribble* | 0.9 | 2.5 |
Ball recovery rate* | 2.2 | 2.7 |
Tackles and interceptions* | 0.8 | 1.1 |
Win a duel* | 4.4 | 5.3 |
Data via Sofascore | ||
Gakpo is a clinical striker, but he is also a prodigal. This inconsistency is due to the fact that his blows come in large numbers from a distance. The Dutchman’s trademark cut-in inside shot has become a familiar sight at Anfield, but too often it goes awry, usually at the expense of better selection closer in, an overlap for Milos Kerkes or a play into space for Wirtz.
Real Madrid’s Brazilian “superstar”, as former teammate Luka Modric has dubbed him in the past, has hardly been riding the crest of a wave himself, but it’s interesting to see him outperforming Gakpo in a Los Blancos shirt at his lowest ebb. More combative and aggressive at various stages of play.
According to data-driven platform FBref, Vinicius Jr. ranks in the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers in shot creation action and in the top 1% of progressive carries per 90 points in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year. There is a certain standard, which is an indicator of a player’s talent.
This is in stark contrast to Gakpo’s own success. He ranks in the bottom 29% of wingers in the Premier League for carries into the penalty area per 90 this season. For a player who is relatively aggressive in dribbling forward, this is simply not enough, highlighting scattergun shots from useless distance.
Liverpool are in a position to compete for a top-four spot and even if they achieve this goal, it cannot be considered a victory after last summer’s £450m investment.
But this is the reality that slot machines are facing. We have to get it right this year and the arrival of a game-changing forward in Vinicius Junior will push Liverpool back to the forefront.
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