Liverpool have missed Philippe Coutinho.
Salah has broken the Premier League goalscoring record for a 38 game league season with 32. Roberto Firmino has scored over 25 goals in all competitions and Mane sits one goal short of 20 with one game to go. That game being the Champions League final, a competition in which Liverpool have smashed the record for most in a single season. Fourth place in the league was confirmed on the final day and Liverpool will play Champions League football in the 2018/19 season no matter what happens in the final.
Yet Liverpool have still missed Coutinho.
In the Premier League Liverpool’s biggest problem has been too many drawn games. Only five matches were lost but twelve were drawn. In the previous season ten were drawn. Under Jurgen Klopp Liverpool do not lose many matches. They do draw games that are unexpected. Before Virgil van Dijk arrived this was largely because of poor defending. Since Coutinho left that has largely been because of an inability to break down packed defences.
The first match after Coutinho’s sale was the stunning 4-3 victory against Manchester City. Liverpool and Klopp’s counter pressing to the fore and the forward trio of Salah, Firmino and Mane all scoring. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scoring the opener. Against an attacking team like Manchester City Klopp does not need a playmaker. The counter press creates openings against a side looking to create an open shape in possession. These are the openings that Liverpool are seeking.
The very next game was at the opposite end of the spectrum. Liverpool traveled to Swansea. Liverpool started sharply but could not turn early sights of goal into an actual goal. Swansea scored from a set piece and Liverpool could not break down a packed defence. Against Everton, Stoke and Chelsea there was also an inability to break through. Klopp does not look to fire in endless crosses to a big man (not until a final desperate five minutes) so a player with the vision and passing to create from the number 10 position is vital. At times Mane has been asked to perform that role, at times it has worked, but largely it has not. Mane has many excellent attributes but his strong suits are pace, power and agility rather than technique, rapier passing and creativity.
Coutinho’s transfer also created another problem for Liverpool. They were now unable to rotate with comfort. Salah, Firmino and Mane had to play. Solanke did not score until the final day of the Premier League season. Danny Ings scored once against West Brom. As Liverpool got closer to the Champions League final the inability to rotate meant that Liverpool laboured against Stoke and looked tired at Chelsea, rotation at various points between January and May might have provided the extra energy to finish a position or even two higher up the table.
Coutinho brought so much to the team and squad. Klopp has a preference for a smaller squad but with players who are able to play in two or three positions. Coutinho was able to play wide left, as a ten behind the forwards, as an eight in the advanced playmaker role and also on the right (though this was generally a mid game switch rather than a starting position). Statistically Coutinho scored 12 times in his twenty 2017/18 Liverpool appearances with eight assists. He also produced just under three key passes and three dribbles per game. A long range goal threat as well as being able to provide imaginative forward passes against packed defences. All of which was on top of a technical prowess that matched the best in the world. Coutinho’s final totals for the 2017/18 season were 21 goals and 13 assists in 41 games.
For Liverpool to directly replace Coutinho the player would need to be able to bring a large number of attributes. Liverpool do not necessarily need to bring in like for like. What they do need is a player versatile enough to play across the forward line and/or able to unpick defences from a central zone with clever passes. A good long range strike would also be a useful attribute as aside from Oxlade-Chamberlain on forward bursts and Salah cutting inside from the right Liverpool have carried little threat from outside the box post Coutinho.
Fortunately there are a number of candidates.
The Next Big Thing – Nabil Fekir. (24)
Stat Line – Goals 23 – Assists 8 – Key Passes 2 – Dribbles – 3.2 – Tackles 1.5
Nabil Fekir started to make an impact at Lyon during the 2014/15 season when he scored thirteen goals and created nine. He then ruptured a cruciate and sat out the 2015/16 season. He returned in 2016/17 with nine goals and four assists. Since then he has erupted with over twenty goals, scored while playing mainly as an attacking midfielder.
Fekir’s style of play is marked out by an explosive dribbling style. He is capable of attacking space at high speed with the ball but also of twisting in tight central areas to retain possession. Fekir’s shot is powerful making him a threat from long range. He also arrives late into the area to apply one or two touch finishes, something that had developed in Coutinho’s game. Importantly he does look to receive and start attacks in deep narrow positions, turning defenders and flowing forward in the manner Coutinho often did.
Fekir matches or even outperforms Coutinho in some areas. There are a few important differences to note. The majority of Fekir’s assists have come from wide areas rather than the defence splitting pass. Technically Fekir appears to be more explosive than smooth, which fit with the style of Liverpool’s attacking players but might not provide the option of variation. Fekir could be more suited to playing as one of advanced forwards with goalscoring becoming a priority for him. The creation of chances for team mates and unlocking packed defences may not be his speciality.
Someone Different – Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (23)
Stats Line – Goals 14 – Assists 6 – Key Passes 1.5 – Dribbles 1.4 – Tackles 1.6
Physically Sergej Milinkovic-Savic could not be further from Coutinho. Six feet three inches and broad of shoulder, Savic could easily be mistaken for a rugby player. With the ball at his feet his playing style is more reminiscent of Zinedine Zidane. Zizuo was a big strong player with the most delicate of touches and sublime craftsmanship. Savic has that style. The fluency of touch and delicacy of pass. He is different in style to the majority of attacking midfield players currently operating, which would add greater variety to Klopp’s options.
For Liverpool’s purposes Milinkovic-Savic does have the ability to unpick tight defences. He can play passes through or over defensive lines to create opportunities and has a good long range shot. His ability to win back possession makes him an option as number eight for Liverpool but he is less equipped to play in the forward roles, thus Liverpool would likely need to sign another forward as well. This could be a drawback as Savic is likely to carry a very high price tag of his own.
The Compatriot – Malcom (21)
Stat Line – Goals 11 – Assists 6 – Key Passes – 2.4 – Dribbles – 2.7 – Tackles 0.4
Malcom is a player who has been linked to Premier League clubs for some time. His bright, zippy dribbling style would grace any side with desires to play attacking football. Sharp changes of direction followed by explosive movements occur with regularity, when coupled with a powerful long shot it is clear that Malcolm is a threat to opponents.
Positionally this comes from wide right in the main and occasionally wide left. Malcom has a propensity to dribble in from the right and then play passes or take shots from areas traditionally occupied by a number ten or play from the Germanic half space. In instances where possession has built up slowly Malcolm will drift into the half space to receive.
Malcom possesses the ability to play delicate passes into channels against compact defences, he also has a good delivery from wide, two things that will help to break down stubborn back lines. The ability to operate in central positions without actually starting in those areas suggests that as well as playing in wide attacking roles there is the potential to play as an attacking midfielder. He fills in a number of Coutinho shaped gaps but if signed it would be partially based on potential. The one caveat is his lack of defensive contribution, any forward who plays in a Klopp side will have to be able apply the press.
The Direct Runner – Leon Bailey (20)
Stat Line – Goals 12 – Assists 6 – Key Passes 2 – Dribbles 1.9 – Tackles 0.5
The 2017/18 season was a break out campaign for Leon Bailey. Little known at the beginning, much coveted at the end. Bailey has the speed and flair to be a part of Liverpool’s forward line.
Technically he remains a little raw, with his agility and dexterity sometimes regaining balls that seem to have eluded his dribble. At 20 years old Bailey is an explosive example of athletic speed. His playing style would suit Liverpool as he is a clear threat on counter attacks and is able to create space for his powerful long shot. Bailey can play on either flank although he is mainly used by Bayer Leverkusen as a left sided player as they look for him to drive down the line and deliver with his left foot.
There is much raw talent in Leon Bailey. At this stage he looks unlikely to be able to operate as an attacking midfielder but provides options in wide attacking positions. He would allow for the greater rotation that Liverpool had while Coutinho was still there but could not replace him as a creator. Like Malcom his contribution out of possession would need to improve. Though as he is only 20 it is possible for him to develop in seemingly unexpected ways.
The Big Names – Marco Asensio (22) and Isco (26)
Asensio Stat Line – Goals 9 – Assists 7 – Key Passes 1.5 – Dribbles 0.9 – Tackles 0.8
Isco Stat Line – Goals 8 – Assists 9 – Key Passes 1.7 – Dribbles 1.8 – 0.9
To some these two names would appear to be unrealistic transfer targets for Liverpool. Both are technically excellent, international quality footballers. Both are capable of performing in any attacking position (Isco is also able to play in the advanced number 8 role). However, neither seem to be fully trusted by their club manager.
The competition for places at Real Madrid is fearsome. Only Ronaldo and Benzema appear guaranteed to start in the forward roles. The rest have been shuffled around with even a marquee player like Gareth Bale spending extended periods on the bench. There are reasons why Isco and Asensio are not fully trusted. Neither make enough defensive contributions for Zidane’s liking. For Asensio also comes an unwanted reputation for being a poor finisher, a feeling that he can only score stunning goals.
Both players are capable of brilliance. Isco is the more reliable finisher and also the more effective in tight central areas. Isco has the craft to produce passes that create openings from the number ten position.
Either signing would undoubtedly boost Liverpool but much could change at Real Madrid this summer, making the odds of either arriving at Anfield marginal.
Something To Prove – Florian Thauvin (25)
Stat Line – Goals 25 – Assist 13 – Key Passes 1.9 – Dribbles 3.1 – Tackles 1.3
A Premier League failure. Just thirteen league games for Newcastle United and not a single league goal or assist. Thauvin joined from Marseille in 2015/16 with a growing reputation. It was shattered.
Back home at Marseille it has exploded again. Playing as right sided attacker Thauvin has carved open defences with goals and assists. He regularly cuts inside to shoot powerfully with his left foot or play reverse passes to forward runners. Thauvin is a rapid outlet for counter attacks and has both the pace and dribbling ability to give defenders nightmares. In the 2017/18 season Thauvin has been a technically smooth and assured player who has core assets that are comparable to Coutinho.
There is a major problem with Thauvin though. The problem is Mo Salah. Thauvin started 37 of his games for Marseille on the right. He rarely started anywhere else. That puts him in competition with Salah for a place. It also limits the rotation options.
A Comeback – Luis Alberto (25)
Stat Line – Goals 12 – Assists 19 – Key Passes 2.6 – Dribbles 1.7 – Tackles 1.1
Liverpool fans will remember Luis Alberto. They will remember that he was a Liverpool player but they will not remember him making many important in game contributions. It was five years ago Alberto signed for Liverpool. Only now at Lazio is it apparent exactly why that signing happened.
Luis Alberto has played as an attacking midfielder (with Milinkevic-Savic playing mainly behind him in the number eight position). His 19 assists are testament to the ability he has to open up defences with intelligent passes. Scooped passes, flicked passes, one touch passes, threaded passes, they are all within his repertoire. What is also striking is Luis Alberto’s composure when faced with a packed defence. The game appears to slow down for him as he picks out the pass or slips past a defender. His 1.1 tackles per game also suggest that Alberto can make the contributions without the ball that Klopp requires.
Luis Alberto as an attacking midfielder and lock picker would appear to be a good option. Especially as he is unlikely to command a huge fee. The doubts would be about revisiting some who made so little impression the first time round. However, everyone is allowed to admit to being wrong.
From Left Field – Pablo Fornals (22)
Stat Line – Goals 4 – Assist 14 – Key Passes 1.4 – Dribbles 0.8 – Tackles 1.5
A playmaker from no where but with assist numbers to rival much bigger names (Christian Eriksen recorded fewer assist and the same number of dribbles per game) all while doing it for a lower ranked La Liga team. Albeit a team that looks to play an expansive style.
Fornals is a player who receives the ball in the number 10 positions. Who twists and turns his way out of trouble, linking the midfield and attack. He is also a player with great vision and intelligence to play those forward passes that Salah and Mane so like. He also has a high tackle per game statistic, so is likely to make important contributions to regain possession.
The disadvantage is that he is such an unknown quantity. One season in the Malaga first team and one season in the Villareal starting eleven. Is he the biggest fish in a very small pond or is he a player with enough personality to step up and produce even more with better players around him?
The Premier League Player – Manuel Lanzini
Stat Line – Goals 5 – Assist 6 – Key Passes 1.5 – Dribbles 2.4 – Tackles 0.7
During Lanzini’s time at West Ham they have been largely underwhelming. Not a team that have played exciting attacking football under Bilic and Moyes (aside from when they where inspired by Dimitri Payet). In that time Manuel Lanzini has been their most likely player to create an unexpected opening. Lanzini has the ability to play through balls, take on defenders and has a good long range shot. He can play as an attacking midfielder or wide forward. In many respects he is Coutinho lite. Yet he is rated highly enough by Argentina for him to have started games ahead of the Dybala, Higuain and Aguero.
As a player currently in the Premier League there should not be a noticeable bedding in period. There could be a premium on his fee because he is moving from one Premier League club to another which might make other overseas based prospects more attractive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn8KJ6H51Mo
It is a wide array of players who could make up for what has been left by Coutinho, all in their own differing ways. The biggest problem being the inability to unlock defences. A player with that ability is required.
Or have they already signed that player in Naby Keita?
The Great Hope – Naby Keita
Stat Line – Goals 9 – Assists 7 – Key Passes 1.4 – Dribbles 3 – Tackles 3
Keita is widely considered to have had a poor 2017/18. The only reason for this is because of how good his 2016/17 season was. Keita has an astonishing all round game. The ability to make bursting dribbles forward is allied with a huge three tackles per game. Keita’s assists tend to come from forward passes after running with the ball but he can also play the slide rule or scooped passes to open up defences. He also has the powerful long range shot to be a threat from distance. A good long range shot is important not just because Coutinho has one, but because it means players have to close the man on the ball down. This creates more space for others and greater opportunities to offload passes.
Keita should be a fantastic signing. He will not be a direct replacement for Coutinho. It is unlikely anyone can be because of Coutinho’s versatility. He might be a solution to the problem of breaking down compact defensive units as well as providing extra energy in central midfield. Keita is certainly a solution to the problem of the eight. It might be a stretch for him to solve the ten.