Thiago Alcantara plays on the left side of the midfield for the Reds. The above viz shows the heatmap of the players from the last season. His average position is inside the middle third. The Spaniard made 35 appearances in total in the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. This season Thiago has only appeared in three matches.

The above viz shows the area where Thiago covers a lot of areas in the middle third to defend his team’s goal. He made some crucial interceptions to stop the flow of the opposition’s attack. The above viz shows the map from last season. We can observe that Thiago has intercepted a few passes in the attacking half, and these interceptions could lead to a counter-attack. This is the area where his experience comes in handy, and Thiago has also been consistent in such areas.

Whenever Thiago has the ball at his feet, he looks like a different player. His passing technique is one of the best in the world. The midfielder also has a range of passes in his pocket and always looks to find a teammate in dangerous areas. Last season, he averaged 77.64 passes per 90 minutes with a 91.7% accuracy rate. These included 13 passes to the final third and 2.88 passes to the penalty box. This season, Thiago has been more direct with his passing. He averages 69 passes per 90 minutes with a 90.6% accuracy rate. These include 15 passes to the final third and five to the penalty area. This shows the ability of the player and the threat he poses to the opposition defence.

Another area where the player is handy for the Reds is in his ability to recover the ball in dangerous areas. Last season, he made 85 regains in the attacking third and a few of them led to a shot within the next 20 seconds. Other than this, these recoveries put a lot of pressure on the opposition players as they constantly feel the pressure on them.

Thiago Alacantra can also carry the ball in the penalty box and often creates panic in the defence. He made 76 penetrating carries last season and mostly entered the box from the left side. Such runs can result in a foul or provide an opportunity for a teammate to score a goal.

Thiago’s return will be a boost for the manager. His skills on the ball make him a world-class player. The player will aim to help his side win their upcoming league matches and catch the league leaders.

Visuals via TFA data viz engine

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For six incredible seasons, Sadio Mané was at the forefront of Liverpool’s goal-machine of an attack and was a key figure in their success in that timespan. Arriving from Southampton in 2016 for £36.5m from fellow Premier League club Southampton, the Senegal international hit the ground running and became an instant fan-favourite of the Anfield faithful. Fast forward to the back end of the 2021/22 season and news broke of Mané’s transfer to Bayern Munich, there were mixed opinions. Some weren’t too bothered as they believed Mané was past his best, others were confident that Liverpool had a ready-made replacement in Luis Diaz and/or Diogo Jota, and some were worried that the Reds had just lost an essential part of their team.

Everyone who has ever played FM knows the pain of losing a key player and having no/little control over it, and it can really be a setback, especially if you fail to find a suitable replacement. This article will assess the potential options available in replacing Sadio Mané in Football Manager 2023, using FM22. We will look at players already at Liverpool’s disposal as well as dipping into the transfer market to discuss potential buys.

Sadio Mané profile

As mentioned, Mané was one of the most important pieces in Klopp’s puzzle. He brought consistency and quality in bucket loads while coming up with a good number of important goals along the way. His pace and dribbling are two of his top assets, so any replacement should excel in those areas as we are looking for an aggressive winger rather than a wide playmaker.

Positionally, Mané was extremely versatile; competent in a number of positions that included striker, attacking midfielder, and winger on either side. Top attributes like pace (18), first touch (17), technique (17), and dribbling (16) make him extremely dangerous in a multitude of attacking situations. Player traits like “gets into opposition area”, “moves into channels”, and “cuts inside from both wings” highlights his ability to exploit and attack space with great offensive intent.

When we look into reports on Mané, we get an even clearer idea of his quality. At 4.5 stars CA/PA, he is listed as a world-class talent, on par with Mo Salah. His list of pros includes his explosive pace and acceleration, while he also boasts assets in other areas like fitting in with the core group of the squad – an important aspect that increases teamwork and helps him to flourish in line with squad tactics and instructions.

Possible replacements in Liverpool’s squad

In Football Manager 2022, Liverpool’s transfer budget is £24m at the start of a new game, and it could be around the same figure in FM23, if not lower. This significantly limits the possibility to sign a replacement in the first transfer window, so it would be wise to utilise the players already at your disposal as Liverpool manager.

The first option that springs to mind is Luis Díaz, a player who, like Mané did, has captured the hearts and imagination of the Anfield faithful with his impressive performances and moments of flair. Attributes like dribbling (19), first touch (18), and technique (18) see him excel Mané in those specific areas, with similar pace stats as well. It is the other corners of Díaz’s game that limit him from being on the same level as Mané for now, but at 25 years of age, he still has a couple of seasons to develop and become a world-class player. His CA/PA in FM22 was 3.5/4* so he definitely has the ability and potential to be a key Liverpool player for years to come.

In a direct comparison to Sadio Mané, we can get a clearer idea of Díaz’s strengths. Again, it is important to remember that Mané is a player who has already reached his peak, while Díaz’s peak years are still yet to come. Mané betters the Colombian in several areas such as mental and physical attributes and is just slightly quicker. However, Díaz’s dribbling, vision, physicality, and general attacking ability are all very strong, making him a serious contender to fill Mané’s boots in that left-winger spot.

The other option already at the club is 25-year-old Diogo Jota, who enjoyed a strong start to life at Liverpool and is another player who quickly became popular with the fans thanks to his attacking ability and impressive work rate. While he isn’t blessed with the blistering pace of Mané, he is still quick enough to cause some damage thanks to his high dribbling (16), technique (15), and flair (17). He also possesses strong versatility and is able to play centrally as a striker or attacking midfielder, while also being a natural on either flank. On FM22, his CA/PA was 3/3.5*, and while this may be higher on FM23, it is an indication that he shouldn’t be the first-choice winger over a long period of time.

When compared to Mané in key areas, Jota looks stronger than his CA/PA and attributes suggest. Jota only betters Mané in one particular area – aerial. Jota has displayed a strong aerial game in a Liverpool shirt, especially for a player of his size, and matches the Senegal international in areas like vision and overall attacking. He also comes close to matching Mané in areas like technicality, physicality, and mentality. These observations suggest that Jota could still play a key role over the course of the season, especially with the Reds participating in Europe, meaning squad depth is essential.

Bringing in a fresh face

We’ve just made the point that squad depth is key when managing a club playing in European competitions, so opting to sign a new player to fill the void left by Mané is also a smart option. The issue of the transfer budget, or lack thereof, can be avoided by selling some players who have high transfer values and high wages i.e., Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain etc. (see our squad assessment article here to read more about this). Using transfer options like monthly instalments or player trades can also be extremely helpful, depending on the player you are looking to sign and the club they are contracted to. Below is a list of a small number of possible realistic transfer targets.

A player who has been linked with a variety of Champions League clubs is Allan Saint-Maximin. The Newcastle United winger has caught the eye of many since his arrival in the Premier League, producing several dazzling moments. The Frenchman is notably quick with high pace and acceleration attributes and possesses similar high abilities to Sadio Mané – dribbling, first touch, and technique. You would need to spend some time fully scouting Saint-Maximin to get a more accurate idea of his ability if you didn’t want to risk splashing the cash early on. His estimated transfer value lies between £47m-£77m, and earns £90k p/w, making him a realistic transfer in terms of finances. One stumbling block in exploring this option is that he is yet to have reached a point in his career where he performs consistently and has so far failed to produce in the goals/assists side of the game. For the money you are going to spend, there could be safer, more reliable options available.

Another player who could fit the Liverpool mould and still has plenty of room for development is AC Milan’s Rafael Leão. At just 23 years old, he could be a signing that delivers the goods at a high level for the best part of a decade. Like Saint-Maximin, Leão requires more scouting to get a 100% accurate reading on the Portuguese winger’s ability, but the window of ability for key areas is promising. He excels in areas like dribbling, first touch, and technique. He also has a high flair attribute, along with other strong mental areas like off-the-ball work and vision. In line with the requirements of replacing Mané, Leão also possesses high-speed attributes, which is impressive considering his height of 6”2” – making him an aerial threat too. Able to play on the left flank or as a striker, he would be a smart signing if you can raise the funds to meet his estimated transfer fee of £57m-£76m which may be even higher in FM23.

One final option that ticks most of the attribute boxes is something of a curveball, but everyone who plays FM is partial to a nostalgia signing every now and then! Phillipe Coutinho is, to this day even, a fan favourite. While many fans felt betrayed by his departure in 2017, he is still admired by Liverpool fans for the amazing memories he produced. At 29 years old, the Brazilian is in his peak years and possesses an array of high technical attributes. While he has decent acceleration, his general pace lets him down when compared to the other mentioned options. However, his dribbling, technique, flair, and agility all equip him well enough to beat players in the final third without the need to use raw pace. His estimated price tag in FM22 was £43m-£53m and comes with an exceptionally high weekly wage – something to consider when you will likely only get two or three good seasons out of him. There are some pros and cons to this option, but it would certainly go down well with the fans.

Conclusion

The left winger position isn’t an area of concern by any means, even without Sadio Mané, but the departure of a key player should always be followed by an assessment and exploration of the possibilities going forward. Either you save your budget and place trust in the players already in the squad as they certainly do have the ability, or you look to splash the cash early in your reign as manager by bringing in a new name. Both options have their pros and cons, it simply comes down to the philosophy and needs of the manager in charge of the club. The three new options discussed are not necessarily the best three options available – there are many names that could also be considered, especially once some scouting has taken place. There was a theme with each player, though – each one excelled in areas like dribbling and technique, often with a strong first touch and flair. Pace is also an important factor, but as demonstrated by Coutinho, blistering pace isn’t always a necessity – especially when you already that in Luis Díaz.

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Fabinho has featured in every game played by Liverpool in the English Premier League this season. He plays as a defensive midfielder. The player is yet to make any goal-scoring contributions this season. Last season, things were a bit different for the Brazilian. He scored a goal and provided an assist in the first six matches of the English Premier League season. He ended the season with five goals and an assist.

Fabinho sits in the middle of the park and distributes the ball in different directions on the pitch. He averages 59.7 passes per 90 minutes with a 90.6% accuracy rate. These passes include 7.6 passes to the final third and 1.44 passes to the penalty box. Last season, the average number of passes per 90 minutes in the first six matches was 46.64%. This season, the midfielder has held the ball more and has been more involved in the play.

Liverpool players had to defend their goal on more occasions than they did in the first six games of last season. Fabinho’s defensive form has taken a dip as he has only won 26.7% of his duels and 47.1% of his loose ball duels. Last season, he had an overall win percentage of 58.5% for aerial duels and 60.6% for loose ball duels. The interception rate is quite similar and averages around 4.15 interceptions per 90 minutes. The above viz shows that Fabinho has the responsibility of defending the central areas. Most of the fouls have been committed in the attacking half or just near the half line. He is not afraid of taking a booking for his team. Fabinho will look to improve his win percentage in the coming matches.

Liverpool plays an attacking style of football and the players have to recover the ball to continue the momentum of the attack. Fabinho’s recovery rate is a bit similar to last season. He averages 9.7 recoveries per 90 minutes and 54% of them have been made inside the attacking half. The player has made 12 recoveries in the attacking third and will look to trouble the opposition more in the coming matches.

Liverpool’s slow start to the season has affected the form of the players. Fabinho has been a regular under Jurgen Klopp and has shown consistency. The player will look to get back to form and help his side challenge for the title.

Visuals via TFA data viz engine

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Trent Alexander-Arnold finished last season with two goals and 12 assists in the English Premier League. This season, he has already scored a goal but is yet to provide the final pass that could lead to a goal.

Trent Alexander-Arnold averages 73.37 passes per 90 minutes and has a low accuracy rate of 76.1%. His passing average last season was 78.1%, and this has been low due to the number of passes that the full-back delivers into dangerous areas. This season, the full-back has already attempted 41 crosses, 80 passes to the final third and 63 pass to the penalty area. A total of 18 crosses, 49 passes to the final third, and 33 passes to the penalty area have been successful, but none of them have been converted into a goal. Last season, at the same stage, Arnold attempted 31 crosses, 66 passes to the final third and 41 passes to the penalty area. 15 crosses, 47 passes to the final third, and 23 passes to the penalty box were delivered. This season, Arnold is trying hard to get the final result, but that has affected his passing accuracy.

The above viz shows the dribbling areas as well as the crosses delivered by the player. As mentioned earlier, Trent has attempted 41 crosses so far and only 18 have been delivered. Some of the crosses have been cleared, while the ones that have found a teammate are either saved or are off target.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has performed fewer defensive actions this season than he did in the first six games of last season. In the first six matches of last season, Arnold contested 44 defensive duels, 13 aerial duels, and 21 loose ball duels. He won 25 defensive duels, seven aerial duels, and seven loose ball duels. This season, he has contested 23 defensive duels, six aerial duels, and 14 loose ball duels. The player has managed to win 16 of his defensive duels, three aerial duels, and five loose ball duels. This shows that the player has less involvement in defensive actions this season. The interceptions have also gone down from 29 to 14. However, one of the areas where the player has performed well is in recovering the ball. He recovered the ball 46 times last time and 21 were made inside the opposition half. This season, 56 recoveries have been made, 26 of them inside the opposition half. The above viz shows that Trent Alexander-Arnold has made 13 recoveries in the final third.

The full-back has attacked more in recent games. This was basically due to Liverpool’s struggles to win the match. They had to stay on the attack most of the time. Trent has proved to be vulnerable in defence on occasions and has received criticism for that. However, the player has a lot of potential and will look to improve his stats going further into the season.

Visuals via TFA data viz engine

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Joel Matip has made four appearances for Liverpool and spent 286 minutes on the pitch this season. The 31-year-old centre-back plays as the right centre-back and likes to carry the ball from the defensive third to the middle third. He is very confident with the ball and can play passes to his other teammates.

Joel Matip has made defensive contributions in the area marked in the above viz. He averages 7.87 defensive duels, 4.11 aerial duels and 3.08 loose ball duels per 90 minutes. The win percentage is 82.6% for defensive duels, 75% for aerial duels, and 66.7% for loose ball duels. Other than this, he averages 4.11 interceptions per 90 minutes and a few of them have been made inside the penalty box.

Joe Matip made a sensational return by scoring a winning header against Ajax. He returned to the starting 11 and replaced Joe Gomez, who played a poor game against Napoli. Joel Matip, on his return, dominated the defence by winning 88% of his duels. The centre-back won his every aerial duel and only lost three duels in the match. He showed his class and helped his side win three points. The above viz shows that Matip won seven duels inside the opposition penalty box, and this makes him a threat during set pieces.

Another area where the player has and will prove handy is his ability to recover balls. This season, he has averaged around 12 recoveries per 90 minutes, with 28.6% of them coming in the attacking half. Against Ajax, Matip made 14 recoveries and six of them came in the opposition half.

Joel Matip had an excellent game against Ajax. His goal at the end boosted the confidence of the team before going into the international break. Jurgen Klopp will be happy with the king of performance showed by the 31-year-old and will hope that Matip helps his side to keep more clean sheets.

Visuals via Wyscout and the TFA data viz engine

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Diogo Jota is a versatile forward who started playing on the left side but can also play in the number nine role. He has made three appearances for the Reds this season and spent 118 minutes on the pitch. The 25-year-old has an assist to his name

Diogo Jota has been a goalscorer for the Reds since joining the club in 2020 from Wolves. The Portuguese international scored 15 goals in the English Premier League and was a key part of Liverpool’s second place finish in the league table. The above viz shows the shot map of the player. We can observe that Jota likes to attempt most of his shots from inside the penalty box. He can also find space inside the 6-yard box and score tap-in goals. Last season, he averaged 3.05 shots per 90 minutes, with a 38.4% accuracy rate. His xG rate per 90 minutes was 0.58. The player will look to regain his form and help Liverpool win more games this season.

One of the most impressive stats about the player is his ability to recover the ball in dangerous areas. Liverpool plays a high attacking line and often loses the ball while attacking. Players like Diogo Jota play a crucial role during these situations and can also help them to score goals from these recoveries. He made 42 counter-pressing recoveries and 14 dangerous recoveries. Jota will look to make more recoveries this season and put pressure on the opposition defender.

The 25-year-old has returned to action for the Reds. He is a versatile attacker who can play through the centre and on the flanks. Diogo Jota is yet to start a match in the English Premier League and will be hoping to score goals in double figures this season.

Visuals via TFA data viz engine

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There’s always that buzz when you join a new club on Football Manager. From checking out the club’s current staff team to looking at their finances, to looking through the squad you’ve inherited, it almost feels like you’re entering through the doors of the club’s training ground for the first time. Many FM players will have different opinions on what to do first when you join a new club but looking through your new squad and assessing it is arguably the most important thing on your to-do list. Whether it’s a thorough assessment that includes elements such as analysing squad depth and judging players on the individual positional roles you intend to use in your tactics, or whether it’s just a quick glance to see which players you’ll be working with, some form of squad assessment must take place.

Using Football Manager 2022 (and the latest official squad update), we will provide just that – an assessment of Liverpool FC’s squad as we head into Football Manager 2023. How will this work? Well, using the FM22 Liverpool squad, we have filtered the players who are no longer at the Anfield club into the reserves squad, so all that remains in the assessment are the remaining players from last season’s first-team squad. Of course, there will be some notable absentees from the FM screenshots. Players like Darwin Núñez and Calvin Ramsey, for example, aren’t in the Reds’ squad, but we will still include them in the discussion at the relevant points.

This article will look to provide a strong insight into the state of the squad by identifying squad leaders, young prospects, key players, and the weakest players. Furthermore, we will be using the various squad analysis options and the squad depth analysis tool in-game to highlight which areas of the pitch Liverpool excel in, and where recruitment may need to be focused on.  It is worth noting that player ratings/attributes and their PA/CA (potential ability/current ability) will differ in FM23 from those of FM22 in some cases.

Overall squad notes

We begin by getting to know the Liverpool squad with a brief overview of the depth in each position – based on the default Liverpool formation: the FM fan favourite 4-2-3-1. This segment of the analysis gives us a chance to see where Liverpool need to improve in terms of numbers, but we will also dive deeper to compare the squad with the rest of the league.

Unsurprisingly, Liverpool have strong ratings in every area of the pitch, particularly in attack. There are also a number of players who are strong in a variety of positions, which will come in handy with squad rotation. Key players like Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, Mo Salah, and Luis Diaz were all judged at three and a half stars out of five last season and are likely to be so again in FM23 – these players will be pivotal to any success as Liverpool manager. While Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold are rated up there with the best in their respective positions in the real world, FM22 had them rated at a CA of three stars, although Robertson’s CA seems to float between three and three and a half stars. Then there is also the factor of Alexander-Arnold’s age – his PA is far higher than his CA as he still has plenty of development to come before reaching his peak.

In terms of weak spots, a truly solid backup goalkeeper would not go amiss – keeping Kelleher could be beneficial as he could develop past two stars due to his age. Adrian, however, could be one to send through the exit door – this would also help the wage budget nicely too.

Beyond that, there are no real weaknesses in terms of CA, but there are a number of players with average CA ratings but earning substantial wages. Players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (three-star CA/PA, earns £125k p/w), and Naby Keita (three-star CA/PA, earns £130 p/w), could bring in large sums of money in both the transfer budget and wage budget – let’s face it, they aren’t really going to get consistent first team football at Anfield. There are other players that fall into that bracket, but you must always be careful of selling too many players as A) it could be difficult to bring in suitable replacements and B) selling too many players can unsettle the rest of the squad in terms of morale and their trust in you as a manager.

In terms of mental attributes, Liverpool have the highest average in several areas when compared to the rest of the Premier League – hence the real-life term that has stuck with them: the mentality monsters – even if the title itself does have a cringe-worthy factor to it. Excelling in these kinds of areas we see above can be vital in difficult games/phases as they will show fight and determination, as well as being composed in crucial moments. They do, however, lack leadership in comparison to the rest of the Premier League. Outside of van Dijk, James Milner, and Jordan Henderson, you are really struggling for someone who shows strong captain qualities on a consistent basis. Having said this, Liverpool’s average leadership rating does rank above the Premier League average, so it cannot be classed as poor.

Liverpool aren’t known for their size and physicality as a team, which is reflected in the above image. Aside from showing exceptional balance throughout the team and having one of the quickest teams in the entire division, they may struggle against especially physical and tall teams who like to utilise aerial tactics.

There are also young players who will benefit from game time, or maybe even a loan move. Calvin Ramsey, Harvey Elliot, Fabio Carvahlo, and a host of academy prospects would fall into this category. In this respect, each player may benefit from different decisions. For example, high potential players under the age of 18 should be allowed to develop at the club’s academy, with the possibility of playing for the reserves. Some players between the 18-20 age range may benefit from a loan move if they aren’t yet ready to make the step up to the first team, while young stars around 20-23 will benefit greatly from sporadic first-team appearances with some games for the reserves as well.

Goalkeepers

It is no secret that Liverpool have one of the best goalkeepers in world football in Alisson Becker. Since his arrival to the Premier League, he has been consistently reliable for Jürgen Klopp’s side, and his attributes on FM22 reflect that – and we expect it to be reflected in FM23 as well. As mentioned above, Liverpool’s backup keeper situation isn’t the strongest, and we may look to bring in a fresh face in that area in FM 23. Below, we compare Liverpool’s goalkeeper unit to that of the rest of the division.

As you can see, as a unit, Liverpool’s goalkeeper unit does not excel. They have one of the lowest average attribute rankings for aerial reach ability at 13.67 and score below average on attributes for commanding the area at 12.67. Once again, investing in a higher-quality backup keeper will help boost this area for the Reds.

Defenders

Before Klopp’s reign, there were question marks about Liverpool’s defensive capabilities, and this carried on into the German’s early years at the club. While their back line has been considerably stronger in recent years, some question marks still loom – can Trent actually defend? Is Joe Gomez really good enough to play at this level? Below is a comparison of the quality of Liverpool’s defenders against the rest of the League.

Straight away we can see that Liverpool have some exceptional talent in the defensive quarters, boasting the highest league average for attributes like jumping, marking, and pace. There are no real areas for concern either, with the Reds beating the average on every defensive attribute. Their lowest average, however, is heading – this loops back to the discussion made about a lack of physicality and height in the squad.

Midfielders

An area that has faced some scrutiny, particularly since the departure of Gini Wijnaldum, is Liverpool’s midfield. There has been a constant outcry for an attacking creative midfielder to come into the fold for some years now – the fans seem to want somebody like Phillipe Coutinho to fill the role. However, Klopp’s set-up and shape in midfield does not warrant a midfielder that will be so far forward as Liverpool rarely play through the centre and have good quality for build-up play in the flanks. The league comparison below will provide an insight to the level the midfield is currently at.

Defensively, Liverpool are solid in midfield, proven by having the above-average tackling attributes in the league – players like Fabinho, James Milner, and Jordan Henderson help this. Stamina is only just above the league average, which may be surprising at first given Liverpool’s intense style of play, but when you consider there are players in the squad like Thiago who aren’t known for their engine, it becomes clearer.

In terms of technique, Liverpool boast the highest average in the league for midfield units. Players like Thiago, Keita, and Oxlade-Chamberlain all make significant contributions to this area. The Reds also rank nicely in attributes like passing, vision, and teamwork – key elements to consider when building your own tactic on Football Manager.

Attackers

Perhaps the area that needs zero changes (depending on how you want to play the game and which tactics you deploy) is Liverpool’s attacking unit. Since the Klopp era began, Liverpool have been one of the most feared teams to defend against. For years, the trio of Mane, Salah, and Firmino scored for fun against Premier League defences. Now, with Mane no longer at the club and Firmino arguably past his peak, it’s time for fresh blood in the front line. Players like Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, and Darwin Núñez all add some serious firepower up front. It would be a wise decision to bring in a backup forward – ideally somebody versatile who can play as a striker and a winger as this gives you more depth. Another option would be to go into the market to find a replacement for Mane – something we will cover in the near future.

The lack of an aerial threat is something that may be addressed – while Liverpool don’t rely on it in the real world, the presence of a more physical striker on FM can sometimes work wonders against certain opposition. Many of Liverpool’s forward players are yet to reach their peak, so they will only develop further, so despite some of their averages being just slightly above the league average, there is no real cause for concern.

Conclusion

Liverpool’s squad is an interesting one. In some areas, there are young talents with all the potential in the world. In others – already established top-level talents. But there are also players at the club who some would consider “dead wood” and could be moved on for sizeable fees. There is plenty of versatility in this squad, so if you were to take over as Liverpool boss on Football Manager, there is a strong potential to be successful via a number of tactical methods.

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Darwin Nunez has spent 287 minutes on the pitch for Liverpool this season. He has made six appearances, including two starts. A total of three appearances came in the English Premier League, two in the UEFA Champions League and one in the debut match in the FA Community Shield. The above viz shows that Darwin Nunez likes to drift towards the left side. He averages 9.72 touches per 90 minutes inside the opposition penalty box, and that is a big positive for the Reds.

Darwin Nunez was brought to Liverpool to score goals. With the number of minutes spent on the field, he averages 0.63 goals per 90 minutes. The above viz shows the shot map and the xG rate of the player. The 23-year-old has attempted 21 shots in all competitions, with a 33.33% shot accuracy rate. Nunez likes to make far-post runs on crosses and takes a high leap to get his head on the ball. However, he has failed to capitalise on most of the opportunities and that is the reason behind his low success rate. The striker has a high xG rate and will look to convert more opportunities in the future to cement his place in the starting 11.

Darwin Nunez’s passing hasn’t been that much effective but he is starting to link with his new teammates. The forward already has an assist to his name. He averages 14.4 passes per 90 minutes, with a low accuracy rate of 67.4%. Jurgen Klopp will look for a room of improvement from his player in this department.

Darwin Nunez is starting to settle in the red jersey at Liverpool. He is still adapting to the tactics and might take some time to become a regular under Jurgen Klopp. Nunez needs to improve his shooting accuracy and link-up play. Liverpool fans have a lot of expectations from their new striker.

Visuals via TFA data viz engine

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We’ve broken down all the key stats for you to digest, including;

* shot maps

* xT (expected threat)

* pass networks

* xG timelines * defensive duels

* average positions and much more!

We also try to answer some questions for you with the visuals;

What were the attacking zones for Liverpool? How many passes were attempted to the final third by Ajax?

To navigate the stats gallery simply click on the numbers to move through the pages.

The post UCL Stats Gallery: Recoveries in M3, attacking zones, aerial duels and more from Liverpool vs Ajax appeared first on Football analysis, news, betting and opinion from Liverpool.

The heatmap

Kostas Tsimikas has spent 160 minutes on the pitch this season. He has made five appearances and has two assists to his name. The above viz shows the heatmap of the Greek international. We can observe that Tsimikas has penetrated the opposition penalty box on occasion and averages 2.8 touches inside the penalty box per 90 minutes.

Andy Robertson’s average position is much wider, and the player has stayed mostly in the middle third. He averages 3.3 touches inside the opposition penalty box, but only has an assist to his name. Robertson has spent 435 minutes on the pitch and has appeared in every match.

Tsimikas’ creativity 

Kostas Tsimikas is on set-piece duties for Liverpool. He provided both the assists in a 9-0 victory for Liverpool against Bournemouth. Tsimikas averages 47.8 passes per 90 minutes with an 83.5% accuracy rate. These include 6.75 crosses and 4.5 passes to the penalty box with a 25% and 50% accuracy rate respectively.

Andy Robertson, on the other hand, averages 60.4 passes per 90 minutes. However, he only averages 3.5 crosses and 2.9 passes to the opposition’s penalty box. Kostas Tsimikas has created more threats with his passes and will look to add more assists to his tally.

Kostas Tsimikas constantly tries to trouble the opposition by attempting crosses into the opposition penalty box. The green dots in the above viz shows the successful dribbles and the black arrows show the successful crosses. We can observe that Tsimikas has failed to find a teammate from crosses directed towards the 6-yard box, but has found them in other areas inside the penalty box. He will look to improve his accuracy rate and become more effective.

Some of the stats show that Tsimikas has been a better-attacking full-back than Andy Robertson. The Greek international has spent fewer minutes on the field but has been effective with the limited minutes he has got this season. He will look to remain consistent and become a regular in the squad.

Visuals via TFA data viz engine

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