Have Liverpool rediscovered how you can win soccer video games?
There isn’t any query that this has been an extremely troublesome begin to the season for Arne Slot and his Premier League-winning Liverpool squad, however whereas the defeats have are available in droves in current months, Saturday’s assured win over Brighton & Hove Albion has rubber-stamped the mini-revival.
The Reds have returned to the highest six, with the noise surrounding Mohamed Salah‘s current troubles being silenced for some time, the Egyptian changing the injured Joe Gomez within the first half and placing in a robust show, whipping within the nook for Hugo Ekitike‘s second-half strike.
Ekitike now has 4 targets from his previous two Premier League matches, and he’s changing into fairly the participant for the Merseyside membership.
Ekitike’s efficiency vs Brighton
After Ekitike joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt in an preliminary £69m deal this summer time, he discovered his huge transfer considerably overshadowed by the Alexander Isak saga that swallowed the switch discourse.
Nevertheless it’s the Frenchman, 23, who has higher established themselves, together with his newest brace taking his tally to 10 targets and an help throughout 23 appearances in all competitions, and he is rediscovered his Midas contact within the Premier League.
It is changing into more and more troublesome to argue towards Ekitike taking priority over Isak, England’s report signing at £125m, the Les Bleus star a lot sharper, a lot extra fluent.
Whereas a lot of FSG’s summer time signings have flattered to deceive over the previous a number of months, Ekitike has established himself as probably the most thrilling goalscorers in Europe, nicely well worth the pennies paid.
Nevertheless, one other of Liverpool’s summer time recruits shone simply as brightly towards the Seagulls, and he might need even put in his finest efficiency since making the transfer in June.
Liverpool prospect simply put in his finest efficiency
Liverpool have been in a rut this season, and it is made it troublesome for brand spanking new signings to acclimatise. Florian Wirtz and Isak being two instances in level.
Nevertheless, Milos Kerkez has arguably suffered the hardest begin of the lot, with the Hungarian left-back up to now faraway from the fluid and fearsome Bournemouth full-back from final season.
|
Milos Kerkez within the Premier League |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per recreation) |
24/25 |
25/26 |
|
Matches (begins) |
38 (38) |
15 (13) |
|
Objectives |
2 |
1 |
|
Assists |
5 |
0 |
|
Touches* |
59.6 |
49.5 |
|
Correct passes* |
28.6 (80%) |
26.9 (86%) |
|
Probabilities created* |
1.0 |
0.7 |
|
Dribbles* |
0.6 |
0.3 |
|
Recoveries* |
4.7 |
2.5 |
|
Tackles + interceptions* |
2.6 |
1.8 |
|
Clearances* |
2.6 |
2.8 |
|
Duels received* |
4.0 (54%) |
3.9 (60%) |
|
Errors made |
4 |
2 |
|
Knowledge by way of Sofascore |
||
The 21-year-old, who signed after a £40m deal was agreed, has a lot extra to provide, together with his bouncy athleticism not finest represented as Slot’s tactical imaginative and prescient has struggled to take form.
Sky Sports activities pundit Jamie Carragher referred to as him a “nervous wreck” earlier within the season, however Kerkez regarded extra just like the 2024/25 PFA Staff of the Yr inclusion on the Vitality Stadium, with Liverpool World acknowledging his ‘well-utilised aggression‘, flawless save for one second up towards the tough Yankuba Minteh.
It tells a lot of Kerkez’s combative efficiency that he received eight duels, energetic as he supplied an outlet down the left flank and finishing 89% of his passes and creating one likelihood.
Having endured such a difficult begin to life at one of many greatest golf equipment in Europe, the younger and proficient Kerkez confirmed that he has what it takes, and it would even have been his best exhibiting in a Liverpool shirt.
It is curious to notice that Cody Gakpo was absent on the wing, having earlier this week been dominated out by Slot for the following few weeks. Kerkez’s reference to the inswinging Dutchman has been restricted this season, one-dimensional.
Liverpool have taken a number of assured steps in the fitting path, and although there’s a lengthy technique to go earlier than Slot can say that his system has stabilised and focus will be positioned on successful trophies, we’re starting to see the indicators that the recruits are value their worth tags, albeit with a number of extra nonetheless to display sustained enchancment.
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