Liverpool‘s defence have borne the brunt of the criticism for the membership’s landslide in kind this season. Such reproval has hardly been undue. Nevertheless, Arne Slot‘s forwards have additionally struggled to implement his techniques.
The plain fact is that the Reds have so many punctures throughout their system, and the boss has an more and more slim interval to overturn the plummet in kind that has led to 9 defeats throughout 12 matches in all competitions.
Forward of their journey to West Ham United on Sunday, Liverpool languish in thirteenth place within the Premier League, and there are such a lot of creases for Slot and his employees to iron out if a turnaround is to be discovered.
Mohamed Salah has for thus lengthy been an unstoppable power for the Anfield facet, however he is been among the many most disappointing members of the crew this season, and the correct wing is turning into a weak hyperlink.
Liverpool contemplating Mo Salah successor
If Salah sees out the £400k-per-week contract he prolonged again in April, he’ll depart Liverpool in 2027, marking a decade on Merseyside.
He has scored 250 targets and offered 116 assists throughout 419 appearances in a Liverpool shirt, and he is likely one of the best gamers in Premier League historical past.
|
Mohamed Salah’s Premier League Type |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90) |
24/25 |
25/26 |
|
Targets scored |
0.77 |
0.34 |
|
Assists |
0.48 |
0.17 |
|
Pictures taken |
3.23 |
2.43 |
|
Shot-creating actions |
4.51 |
3.27 |
|
Touches (att pen) |
9.50 |
6.21 |
|
Go completion (%) |
70.6 |
68.1 |
|
Progressive passes |
3.84 |
4.19 |
|
Progressive carries |
4.14 |
3.94 |
|
Profitable take-ons |
1.55 |
0.92 |
|
Ball recoveries |
2.70 |
2.77 |
|
Knowledge by way of FBref |
||
However there is no denying the 33-year-old has been miles south of his ordinary requirements this season, wasteful within the remaining third and drifting on the sting of Slot’s malfunctioning system.
There stays hope that Salah will rediscover his kind, however a hit plan must be put in place, and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yankuba Minteh has been earmarked as a doable possibility.
In response to Spanish sources, Liverpool are ‘critically contemplating’ a transfer for the 21-year-old winger, who has established himself within the Premier League because the begin of final season.
It is unclear at this stage what Brighton would demand for his or her rising star, however he would not come low cost, definitely greater than the £35m determine the Seagulls paid Newcastle to convey him to the south coast in 2024. Some sources recommend discussions may enter the £100m ballpark.
Why Liverpool need Yankuba Minteh
Minteh has really labored underneath Slot’s wing earlier than, scoring 9 occasions throughout 36 matches on mortgage through the 2023/24 season, aiding 5 targets too.
Newcastle had been then compelled into promoting their Gambian prospect to ease PSR-related considerations, and he has develop into a star within the Premier League, hailed by expertise scout Jacek Kulig as “one of many standout wingers” within the division again at first of the time period.
Whereas he is solely scored as soon as throughout 12 matches, Minteh has assisted 4 targets and maintained the sort of athletic degree of efficiency that might increase the bar at Liverpool, with Sofascore recording that he has averaged 2.5 dribbles and received 6.3 duels per sport.
His qualities are additional underscored by FBref’s information. Within the Premier League this time period, Minteh ranks among the many high 6% of positional friends for progressive carries and profitable take-ons, the highest 1% for goal-creating actions and the highest 11% for tackles received per 90.
Aim-creating actions are items of play that result in a objective. These embody moments similar to a move, take-on or foul being drawn.
This mix of physicality and efficiency – the vast ahead scored seven targets final 12 months – is sort of paying homage to Sadio Mane in his Liverpool pomp.
This was really picked up by one soccer scout, who has mentioned that Minteh can “can attain Sadio Mane[‘s] degree” if he continues to foster his pure qualities.
Minteh continues to be so younger. He’s 21. Mane, for what it is price, was 24 when shifting from Southampton to Liverpool in a £34m deal.
Mane did not match Salah’s jaw-dropping output, however he definitely got here shut, and 120 targets and 46 assists over 269 outings throughout Jurgen Klopp’s golden years is hardly a poor return.
Not like Salah, the 34-year-old at all times had a bit extra fury in his sport, so combative and electrical on the ball.
If Minteh may seize even a portion of the shape Mane projected at Anfield over so a few years, he would greater than endear himself to the Reds fanbase.
However, as these within the know would inform you, he has what it takes to emulate the Senegalese icon.
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Arne Slot is shedding grip on his place as Liverpool supervisor after a surprising run of kind.
