Liverpool’s main goal between now and the rest of the season is to clinch the Premier League title for just the second time in the club’s history, and the first in front of their home supporters.
The Reds are a whopping 12 points clear of Arsenal, in second place, with just nine matches left to play in the division, which shows that they are well on course to secure the trophy.
Mohamed Salah has played a significant role in the club’s rise to the Premier League summit, with a staggering haul of 27 goals and 17 assists in the top-flight.
The Egypt international stepped up to score two goals from the penalty spot in Arne Slot’s side’s last match in the division, beating Southampton 3-1.
Salah’s goals from a right wing position have been crucial, as they were against the Saints, and have helped to mask the problem that the Reds have had in the number nine position.
Slot has not had a consistent number nine who has started week-in-week-out, as Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, and Luis Diaz have all had turns in that role.
Why Liverpool have a striker problem
Salah is the only player in the Liverpool squad, despite their success in the Premier League this season, to hit double figures for goals in the league so far, with no other forward on more than nine league strikes.
Diaz, who has started 11 matches as a striker, has scored nine times in 28 matches in the division, but he has performed about on par with his expected tally, based on xG.
Mo Salah
22.98
27
+4.02
Luis Diaz
9.18
9
-0.18
Cody Gakpo
6.35
8
+1.65
Darwin Nunez
5.28
5
-0.28
Diogo Jota
7.21
5
-2.21
Dominik Szoboszlai
6.17
5
-1.17
As you can see in the table above, the Colombia international has scored nine goals from 9.18 xG, whilst Jota and Nunez have also underperformed in front of goal.
This suggests that Slot has a problem in the striker position because he does not have a reliable, go-to, option, which may be why the club have been linked with a move for Newcastle United centre-forward Alexander Isak – who scored against Liverpool in the League Cup final earlier this month.
The Sweden international, who is reportedly valued at more than £150m, has scored 19 goals from 15.55 xG in the Premier League so far this season for the Magpies, which suggests that he is the kind of ruthless finisher that the Reds currently lack.
Whilst the likes of Diaz, Jota, and Nunez have failed to make the most of the chances that have fallen their way, Isak can elevate his team with his exceptional finishing quality by outperforming his xG.
Liverpool are, however, reportedly eyeing up another forward who is like the Swedish ace, but far less expensive, as well as being a big upgrade on Luis Diaz.
Liverpool chasing deal for Serie A star
According to Caught Offside, the Premier League leaders are one of a number of clubs chasing a deal to sign 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee Ademola Lookman from Atalanta at the end of the season.
The report claims that Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, and Arsenal are also showing an interest in the Nigeria international, as Slot plots a move to sign the former Fulham and Everton man.
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It states that Lookman is ‘expected’ to complete a move away from the Italian side when the summer transfer window officially opens for business, with a host of Premier League sides seemingly ready to compete for his services.
Caught Offside adds that the Serie A outfit are set to demand a fee of around £55m to allow the electric forward to leave, which means that he would be almost £100m cheaper than signing Isak would later this year.
Slot and Michael Edwards must, now, push to secure a deal for Lookman ahead of the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Why Ademola Lookman would improve Liverpool's team
The English-born talent has been in phenomenal form for Atalanta in Italy in recent seasons, so much so that FBref lists Isak as one of the most similar players to him based on their respective statistics over the past 365 days.
As you can see in the chart above, both players excel in similar areas of the game as forward players, with Lookman even offering more non-penalty goals and more Expected Assisted Goals per 90.
The Atalanta star’s finishing quality this season suggests that he could bring the ruthless edge that Isak has to Anfield, with 13 goals from 9.11 xG in the Serie A – outperforming his xG by more than any Liverpool player aside from Salah.
Lookman, who scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in the Serie A last season, could come in to be an Isak-esque finisher for Slot, despite costing £95m less.
The 27-year-old star, who was hailed as “sensational” by pundit Jack Collins, can play out wide on the left or through the middle as a centre-forward, which suggests that he could come in as a direct upgrade on Diaz – who offers similar positional flexibility.
Starts
26
xG
14.31
Goals
18
Big chances created
12
Assists
6
As you can see in the table above, Lookman has racked up 18 goals from just 14.31 xG in the Serie A and Champions League combined this term, whilst Diaz has failed to outperform his xG for Liverpool.
Meanwhile, the Colombian forward has only created seven ‘big chances’ in the Premier League and the Champions League combined, which suggests that the Atalanta ace also offers more than him as a creative threat for his side.
These statistics suggest that Liverpool would improve their team by signing Lookman to be an upgrade on Diaz, due to his superior finishing and goalscoring, as well as his ability to create high-quality chances for his teammates more frequently.
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Therefore, Edwards and Slot must sign the Isak-esque star this summer to improve the team and solve their finishing problems at the top end of the pitch, which may be particularly important if Salah leaves when his contract expires this summer.
