Player Scouting and Analysis
ARTICLE BY MATTY
This article will be a bit different than the last one. Instead of focusing in transfer values and
what Liverpool specifically need, I’ll just be analysing certain players that we may be looking at. Thanks for all the suggestions.
Raphinha: The Leeds winger has adapted well to Premier League life, scoring 4 goals and 5
assists in 18 appearances for Leeds this season. He averages 1.7 key passes per game,
indicating a keen sense of setting up goal scoring chances for others, and he also averages 1.5
dribbles per game and 2.3 shots per game. Needless to say, he’s been excellent in most
offensive phases. Defensively, he’s no slouch either, averaging 1.1 tackles and 0.7 interceptions
per game. An all-round winger who can dribble at opponents, set up themselves and others,
and works hard defensively, in many ways similar to Mane and Jota. It’s no wonder that
Liverpool have been linked with him, he’d be a good addition.
Pedro Goncalves (Pote): Capable of playing in midfield or as a Firmino-style false nine. Pote
was bought by Sporting to be Bruno Fernandes’ direct replacement, and he hasn’t
disappointed. In 16 appearances in Liga NOS this season, he’s scored 14 goals and added 2
assists, averaging about three shots per game. Much like Fernandes, his trickery and creativity
have given him many opportunities to score, but his other stats are impressive as well.
Averaging 1.7 key passes per game and 1.3 dribbles per game, Goncalves can often create
dangerous chances for himself or for others, explaining his goal-scoring record. Defensively, he stands out too, averaging 1.3 tackles and 0.7 interceptions per game. He’s a bright young
talent who has lived up to the hype of being Bruno’s heir. It would make sense to buy him.
Ibrahima Konate: Konate is interesting for two reasons. First, he has had a history with injuries despite only being 21, and his performances are much better in the Champions League than they are in the Bundesliga, making it tough to know what type of player he actually is. In the Champions League, he averages over 3 long balls per game while making almost 2 tackles per game and 1.2 interceptions per game. Yet in the Bundesliga, those numbers drop to 1.1, 0.6,
and 0.9 respectively. So then the question must be asked about whether or not it’s worth it to
buy someone who seems to have a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde act going on.
Rodrigo de Paul: A player who’s been linked with us rather recently, de Paul has been touted
By many to be a replacement for Gini. While his game certainly isn’t similar to our underrated
Dutchman, he would provide the midfield with a solid all-rounder capable of scoring his fair
share of goals. With 5 goals and 1 assist in 21 games in Serie A this season, he’s averaged 2.3
key passes and 4.5 deep passes per game, signalling that he’d thrive as a backup or even
eventual replacement for Thiago. Defensively, playing in a league full of crunching tackles, de
Paul averages a tackle and foul per game, meaning he won’t shirk the dirty work. He’s
someone who likes to dribble through defenders, is strong at taking set pieces, and can take
long shots. He’d be a strong addition, though not necessarily a Gini replacement.
Merih Demiral: Demiral is someone I’ve had my eye on for a long time. I must admit that I once enjoyed watching Juventus, which is why I first thought of him, but I haven’t really paid much attention to them since Sarri became manager last year (and was subsequently sacked within a year). Demiral hasn’t played much, usually having Chiellini or Bonucci ahead of him in the pecking order, but he’s solid. He’s got an aggressive edge to him that I like to see in defenders, and he reads the game well, learning from the legendary Chiellini about how to make tackles and interceptions at the right times. However, his passing leaves a bit to be desired, which is why I’d rather have him partnering van Dijk than being the successor to our number 4.
Luka Jovic: The more and more I think about him, he could prove to be one of the better
purchases we’ve made if we sign him. In 2019, this guy was on fire, getting as much hype as
Haaland, and receiving interest from many of the top clubs, Liverpool included. However, he
went to Real Madrid and was utterly misused, really only ever getting time as a last-minute
sub. Now back at Frankfurt with the hype having died down, the tall Serbian has scored 3
goals in 6 appearances off the bench since rejoining his former club. Jovic has everything I’d
want in a striker: good height and jumping ability to score headers, great finishing, good pace,
and solid linkup play. Now that his value has cratered, we could get one of the world’s finest at
the tender age of 23. The more I think about it, the more I want him here.
Michael Olise: Another option that may seem out of the ordinary, the 19-year-old midfielder
could prove to be a shrewd value purchase as someone who could play Firmino’s role or as an
advanced 8. In 22 starts for Reading, Olise has scored 4 goals and tallied 9 assists, breaking
out as one of the bright young stars of the Championship. His passing is extraordinary,
averaging 1.6 key passes, 1.3 crosses, and 2.1 long passes per game, indicating someone
who can attack in various ways, also averaging 1.4 shots and 1.2 dribbles per game. He’s
played in the central midfield, attacking midfield, and all three forward spots, indicating great
versatility. Olise could be a dynamic addition to a club already showing off a bright future, on
account of homegrown talents such as Trent and Curtis.
Denis Zakaria: Blessed with ridiculous pace and strength, Zakaria could be an absolute
monster in the Premier League. Capable of playing as a central midfielder, defensive midfielder, or center-back, the 24-year-old’s versatility and skill has made him a crucial part of a Monchengladbach side that has defied all expectations over the past two seasons. He’s a
strong all-around defensive player, showing good stats in tackling, blocks, and interceptions,
while also averaging 0.5 dribbles per game. He isn’t a brilliant passer, but rather serviceable,
completing 1 long ball per game while completing passes at an 89% clip. If we want a Gini
replacement, I don’t think Zakaria would be too bad of a shout. He can dribble from end to end
and he’s near-impossible to dispossess, both qualities that we value out of our number 5.
Yves Bissouma: A player often linked with us as a replacement for Gini, Graham Potter only
needs to show the player Bissouma has become if he ever needs to show his coaching
credentials. Bissouma has grown from a raw ball of clay into one of Brighton’s best players, the
24-year-old showing a game with little weakness. Very much like Gini, Bissouma does the dirty
work no one appreciates, having only scored one goal with zero assists, but his technicality shows off in his passing, averaging 2.5 long balls per game. His defensive work is sublime,
averaging 3 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, and 0.2 blocks per game. Bissouma would be an
interesting purchase, as his offensive game could still use a little work but he is overall a player that could fit right in and hold his own.
Emi Buendia: My version of Finchy’s obsession with Bruno, Buendia lit the Premier League on
fire last season with no one noticing. Rating only behind de Bruyne in a collection of stats that
determined the most creative player in the Premier League last season, Buendia could play the
Firmino role, in central or attacking midfield, and on the wings. The 24-year-old has scored 9
goals and 8 assists in the Championship this season, averaging more key passes than
Maddison and over 3 long balls per game. Defensively, Buendia makes an interception and 2
tackles per game, showing a willingness to get tough in defense. I was genuinely stunned no
one bought him last summer, and I think he’d be a humble, more well rounded version of peak Coutinho should we bring him in. And yes, I am totally serious when I say that he could be better than peak Coutinho.
Kaide Gordon: Our newest signing, a 16-year-old that Wayne Rooney used in the first team at
Derby, he can play anywhere across our front three and looks very promising. He reminds me a lot about Harvey Elliott as a smaller winger full of swagger that should light it up should we
send him on loan next year. He seems to have more natural pace than Elliott, meaning we
could have a phenom on our hands, dare I say the next Jadon Sancho. A very good signing
that fell a bit under the radar.
Jadon Sancho: Speaking of Jadon Sancho, he’s been the one I’ve had my eye on for years. An
English superstar, dissatisfied with City not treating him right, scoffing off United to join us? A
dream come true. After a slow start to the campaign, he’s tore it up in the new year, with 4
goals and 4 assists in the month of January. There’s really nothing he’s bad at: he works his tail
off defensively, is a magician with the ball at his feet, dribbling last opponents with ease and
capable of taking good shots with both his right and left foot. He can play on either wing as
well, showing off his versatility. I don’t even feel like I need stats to prove the point when I say
he is England’s best player and someone who will be at the forefront of the Ballon d’Or voting
for the next decade. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to snap up a world-class talent for less
than what he’s worth, and it’d be nice to see us take the chance.
Fabian Ruiz: Another midfielder I’ve long had a crush on, Ruiz does everything well. He’s tough as nails defensively, is like Thiago with his passing, and is deadly when he doesn’t have to sit back and dictate play from deep, as seen by his three assists, 2 key passes per game, and 4 long balls per game when playing in an advanced role for Spain. His defensive work is also
strong, averaging 1.5 tackles per game in Serie A. Only 24, with a long and prosperous career
ahead of him, his ceiling could be a mix of Thiago and Toni Kroos. Considering those players
are midfielders who dominated the 2010s, we could have a midfielder in Ruiz that dominates
the 2020s.
Renato Sanches: A flop at both Bayern and Swansea City, one has good reason to be wary of
the 23-year-old. However, he has resurrected his career at Lille in a role similar to that of
Thiago, namely “give him the ball and watch him work”. His defensive game is a little suspect
at times, but not so much that it’s a constant worry, while his passing consists of a steady diet
of long passes, similar to both Thiago and van Dijk. In short, he works best as a deep-lying
playmaker, being miscast as a 10 at both Swansea and Bayern. Everybody wants Golden Boy
winners to be flashy and to rack up all the gaudy stats. In that sense, Sanches has been a
disappointment. However, if you want a steady playmaker that will launch and sustain attacks, even if he doesn’t end up getting many goals or assists, Sanches can be that type of player.
Malick Thiaw: An extremely raw player we were looking at last summer, the 19-year-old Thiaw has grown at a steady pace at Schalke, breaking into the first team setup last year. He’s made 10 total appearances in the Bundesliga this season and has overall done fairly well. He’s
averaged 2 tackles and 1 interception per game, while also adding an expanded range of
passing in averaging 1.4 long balls per game. There’s not a ton of data to go off of here, but
he’d certainly be one to watch. In a year or two, expect us to try and reunite him with Kabak.
Jude Bellingham: Christ, this list is getting long. Alright, the 17-year-old Bellingham lit up the
Championship for Birmingham last season, so much so that they retired his jersey number.
Dortmund have brought him up slowly, as well they should, and he’s shown a well-rounded
passing game, showing decent stats in key passes, crosses, and long balls. He’s one that
keeps possession going and can advance the ball into dangerous positions. He can score long
shots and isn’t afraid of the defensive side of the game. At 17, there are no real holes in his
game, which is ridiculous to say of a 17-year-old. One that we could see wearing Liverpool red
five years down the line once Dortmund try to sell him.
Gio Reyna: AMERICA! The 18-year-old broke into Dortmund’s first team last year and has
already played a variety of positions in a variety of formations. That flexibility is something
Koop typically looks for in his transfers. In 20 total appearances in the Bundesliga, Reyna has
put up 3 goals and 4 assists, showing his prowess as a potential target man. However, his 1.2
key passes per game and 0.7 long balls per game suggest that he could be better as either a
wing or an attacking midfielder, while his defensive work is also more robust than that of a
traditional striker. A fun player to watch with clear ability and talent, Reyna could provide depth at a variety of positions now and could be a world-beater down the line. Also, boy would I love a solid American playing for Liverpool.
Ansu Fati: Alright, let me fill you in on the situation between Fati and Barcelona. Barcelona, in
short, are concerned about Fati’s recent quad injury and how he’ll recover, so much so that
they might not sign him to an extension. If I’m Edwards, I’m scheduling a flight tomorrow to
meet with Barcelona and Fati’s agent with a blank check asking “How much?” He is that good.
He is Ronaldinho and Messi rolled into one, a phenom that I predict will be even better than
Mbappe and Sancho. Barcelona reportedly want £80 million, which I’d pay in a heartbeat. Fati
was Barcelona’s best player this season before his injury, using blistering pace, trickery, and
vision to make life hell for all opposing right backs. He lit up La Liga and the Champions
League with 5 goals and 2 assists in only 9 games. His technical ability could use some work,
as his crossing isn’t great, but this kid averaged 1.5 key passes per game as a winger,
indicating that he can be brilliant as a creator and scorer. Yes, Fati is a future Ballon d’Or
winner and he just might be available. Get on it, Edwards!
Pedri: As good as Fati is, Pedri has broken into Barcelona’s first team at only 17. Koeman’s got
a bit of a regeneration going on over there, doesn’t he? He’s been a regular this season in La
Liga, thriving as an attacking presence in the midfield to link up with the attackers who, like
ours, cut in from the flanks. He’s averaged 1.4 key passes per game in La Liga this season,
resulting in 2 assists, while also proving he can play a bit deeper by averaging 1.5 long balls
per game. His size is definitely an issue, as he’ll get absolutely destroyed by bigger and
stronger players in the Premier League. But perhaps he can be another little magician in the ilk of Coutinho one day soon.
Lautaro Martinez: Alright, this is the last one because my head will explode if I’ve got to do
much more. At this rate I’m thinking half of you will skip the second half of this list because it’s
so long. Anyways, Lautaro is a smaller striker who’s got incredible pace, finishing, and passing
ability. He and Lukaku have formed one of the top striker tandems in Europe because of their
contrasting skill sets. He’s scored 11 goals and 4 assists in Serie A this season, averaging 1
key pass per game. In many ways, he reminds me of a more lethal Firmino, in terms of personality and play style. He’s a strong candidate for many top teams, probably looking for a
big move at the age of 23. I don’t think Liverpool will sign him, but he’s a solid option, one of
the best in the world.
Alright, if you want to see more players, give me a week and then maybe I’ll do another one of
these. But not so long, alright?
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