Liverpool will be without their main man Mohamed Salah for at least two weeks. The Egyptian forward is going to represent his nation in the upcoming African Cup of Nations 2023. Jurgen Klopp is a bit worried as Mo Salah is their star player and he will lack a bit of quality from the right side.
The Reds have a lot of quality players and they are capable enough to win games for the team. One such player in the line-up is highly-rated Uruguayan forward, Darwin Nunez. He has been a threat for Liverpool and has been their main target man in most games. Despite being a quality striker, Nunez has struggled to hit the target on most occasions. However, Nunez has found the back of the net and has the skills to convert chances. A look at Nunez’s stats shows how he will play a key role in his team’s success.
Misses from close range
Darwin Nunez has scored five goals in 1,262 minutes played in the English Premier League this season. The Uruguayan has taken 54 shots and has a 44.4% accuracy rate. He averages 3.85 shots per 90 minutes.
By looking at the above shot map we can observe that Nunez has missed some chances from a very close range. Darwin Nunez has received a lot of ball on the edge of the six-yard box and most chances have gone above the crossbar. This is a worrying sign for the German manager as he needs more conversions and fewer misses from his No. 9. However, there are some positive signs that the Uruguayan has shown.
This visual contrasts a striker’s overall attacking contribution with their shooting prowess. Those in the top right quadrant are not only involved in attacking moves but also frequently take shots. Liverpool’s No. 9 is sitting at the top of the graph and this shows that he has a high average of shots attempted per match.
The above visual assesses a striker’s expected goal contribution in both home and away matches. Those close to the diagonal line indicate consistency in both environments. Nunez is rated among the best in the xG department. He averages around 0.56 xG per 90 minutes.
The above viz highlights a striker’s proficiency at receiving the ball in the penalty area (Receive) and their goals per shot ratio. Top right quadrant players frequently get into dangerous positions and convert their chances effectively. This is one area where the player has struggled. Despite receiving a lot of passes, Darwin has failed to convert chances.
Linking plays with teammates
Another positive sign for Klopp is Nunez’s ability to link plays with his teammates. He already has six assists to his name in the season. Most of these passes are short passes attempted to find a runner inside the penalty box.
Jurgen Klopp will demand better finishing from his No. 9. He can score goals and create for his teammates. Liverpool will hope that they stay at the top of the table when Mo Salah returns.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
