The distinction between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain throughout two legs within the Champions League this season was chalk and cheese. This isn’t a crew who’re able to profitable the largest prizes in soccer, and so main surgical procedure is required.
Although these are two title-winning outfits, the variations couldn’t be extra stark, and Arne Slot now is aware of that Liverpool won’t win silverware this season, as an alternative specializing in boarding the Champions League practice to take them into the brand new marketing campaign.
This has been a disastrous yr for the Premier League champions, and no mistake. However when it rains, it pours, and the Achilles rupture that Hugo Ekitike suffered towards PSG sadly hammers that time dwelling.
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Liverpool’s High Scorers (2025/26) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Participant |
Apps |
Objectives |
|
Hugo Ekitike |
45 |
17 |
|
Dominik Szoboszlai |
47 |
12 |
|
Mohamed Salah |
37 |
11 |
|
Cody Gakpo |
46 |
8 |
|
Florian Wirtz |
44 |
6 |
Ekitike, 23, has been one in every of Liverpool’s star gamers this season, the highest scorer with 17 targets. He joined from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79m final summer time, however his season has now been reduce cruelly quick. Not solely will he miss the World Cup in North America, however he faces an uphill battle to get well earlier than the top of the calendar yr.
How Ekitike harm is altering Liverpool switch plans
Final yr, Liverpool spent large on their frontline, promoting the rebuild as one for the ages, to not be repeated throughout the approaching years of success.
That hasn’t been the case. Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have each struggled all through their maiden phrases at Anfield, and the 33-year-old Mohamed Salah will go away this summer time after his personal wretched marketing campaign.
Cody Gakpo has been mooted for a departure, however the under-performing Dutchman can not go away now that Ekitike is about to be sidelined for therefore lengthy. This has modified Liverpool’s switch plans, however they might nonetheless transfer for an improve on Gakpo.
Whereas quite a lot of targets have been earmarked, observers could also be turned towards Merseyside rival Iliman Ndiaye, who has been Everton’s talisman since becoming a member of in 2024.
Ndiaye, 26, is among the most harmful and versatile attackers within the Premier League, and in accordance with TEAMtalk, he’s firmly on the shortlist as FSG speed up plans to signal a brand new winger.
Valued at £75m, Ndiaye is a ready-made Premier League star, and he may very well be the reply to one of many largest attacking issues that threatens Liverpool’s revival subsequent yr.
Why Iliman Ndiaye may very well be Liverpool’s new Luis Diaz
Liverpool miss Luis Diaz. Hindsight is a humorous previous factor, however even when the Colombian was offered to Bayern Munich for £65m, some questioned whether or not FSG had offered Slot quick on the left wing.
He has been immense for Vincent Kompany’s aspect, direct and lethal but additionally elegant and easy when zipping down the channels. Liverpool won’t get him again, however in Ndiaye, they might signal the brand new model.
“The most effective gamers within the Premier League“, within the view of pundit Jamie O’Hara, Ndiaye has scored 17 targets and provided 4 assists in practically two years as a blue, however his influence far outstretches merely numbers on a scoring char.
There’s a combativeness to Ndiaye’s sport that few gamers obtain. Diaz rivals him in that regard, however you would argue that Ndiaye has the bottom potential to turn into an excellent higher Premier League participant.
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Premier League Comparability – Diaz vs Ndiaye |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per 90) |
Diaz (24/25) |
Ndiaye (25/26) |
|
Matches (begins) |
36 (28) |
26 (26) |
|
Objectives |
13 |
6 |
|
Assists |
5 |
3 |
|
Touches* |
36.5 |
50.5 |
|
Pictures (on track)* |
2.0 (0.8) |
1.2 (0.7) |
|
Correct passes* |
19.8 (86%) |
25.5 (84%) |
|
Large possibilities created |
8 |
6 |
|
Key passes* |
1.6 |
1.0 |
|
Dribbles* |
1.5 (51%) |
2.1 (53%) |
|
Ball recoveries* |
2.9 |
5.9 |
|
Tackles + interceptions* |
1.3 |
2.8 |
|
Duels (gained)* |
3.8 (40%) |
6.0 (46%) |
Ndiaye’s Premier League output won’t be as spectacular as Diaz’s was in his ultimate time period on Merseyside, however he performs for an Everton aspect who’ve needed to work to seek out optimistic attacking play underneath David Moyes, and he has been hailed for having “magic in his boots” by Everton author Lyndon Lloyd. He’s additionally as combative as they arrive, a tough and environment friendly employee.
It is also value noting that Ndiaye is a scientific finisher. He won’t rating all that many, however the 26-year-old is aware of easy methods to discover the highest nook, and his arrival may negate one in every of Liverpool’s largest points in that regard.
Ndiaye is not an out-and-out striker, however with Isak on the best way again to full health, this may very well be the proper option to fight the Ekitike harm whereas widening Liverpool’s attacking scope and dynamism.
Whether or not Liverpool may truly persuade their bitter rivals at hand them their star participant is one factor. Any deal would certainly come at a premium. However the Reds have gotten their sights fastened on Ndiaye, a winger who has the potential to emulate Diaz at Anfield and perhaps even outstrip him.
Liverpool accelerating transfer to signal dream Ekitike substitute in £75m deal
Liverpool have set their sights on a brand new attacker after Hugo Ekitike’s harm.
