Liverpool Trio’s 2023/24 Statistics Compared to the Reds’ £12.5m Transfer Target

Liverpool have emerged as surprise contenders for Juventus and Italy winger Federico Chiesa in the final days of the transfer window.

Despite a relatively quiet summer regarding new signings, Fabrizio Romano revealed that the Premier League giants are considering a budget-friendly deal for the Euro 2020 champion.

Juventus are reportedly open to selling the winger for just £12.5 million. Although Liverpool have strong depth in wide positions, acquiring a player with Chiesa’s experience could be a smart move, especially as cover for Mohamed Salah.

Below is a detailed comparison of Chiesa, Salah, Luis Diaz, and Cody Gakpo for the 2023/24 season. The analysis reveals some intriguing insights, as the Reds’ top attacking target demonstrates strong performance in the numbers.

Shooting

Mo Salah is untouchable

Mo Salah is undeniably the top scorer at Anfield, unmatched in his ability to find the back of the net. Averaging 0.7 goals per game, the Egyptian star ranks 10th in Premier League history for goals scored, outpacing both Chiesa and Liverpool’s current wingers.

Not only is Salah the most prolific in front of goal, but the 32-year-old also leads in all shooting metrics. His 20% conversion rate stands well above the rest, with Chiesa’s 17.65% coming in second.

Although Chiesa lags behind Salah in shot accuracy and the total number of shots per game, he surpasses Diaz in both categories and is on par with Gakpo.

This indicates that Chiesa could potentially become Arne Slot’s second most effective attacking option if he makes the move from Turin to Merseyside.

Shooting Statistics (per 90)
Statistic	Chiesa	Salah	Diaz	Gakpo
Goals	0.4	0.7	0.3	0.5
Shots on Target	1.2	2	1.1	1.4
Shot Accuracy	52.94%	62.22%	49.23%	48.98%
Non-Penalty Goals	0.4	0.5	0.3	0.5
Conversion Rate	17.65%	20%

Passing

Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo impress in possession

Chiesa ranks the lowest in terms of assists per 90 minutes, averaging just 0.1 per game. However, this figure could potentially rise when playing alongside a finisher as sharp as Salah. The Juventus winger created an equal number of chances (2.3 per 90 minutes) as his potential new teammate.

In terms of passing, Chiesa attempted and completed fewer passes per game compared to the Liverpool trio. Diaz was the most active in this area, with the Colombian completing the highest number of successful passes among the four players, followed closely by Gakpo. These passing strengths are beneficial in Arne Slot’s system, which emphasizes minimizing risks and maintaining possession.

Passing Statistics (per 90)
Statistic	Chiesa	Salah	Diaz	Gakpo
Assists	0.1	0.4	0.2	0.3
Chances Created	2.3	2.3	2.2	1.4
Passes Attempted	23.2	33.2	34.7	29.3
Passes Completed	18	25.2	29.6	23.3
Pass Accuracy	77.29%	75.72%

Dribbling

Gakpo and Diaz once again the most successful

Diaz is renowned for his skillful ball control, consistently excelling in dribbling. The former Porto star stands out among his peers, being the only one to average more than two successful take-ons per match.

However, Diaz didn’t always manage to get past his opposing full-back. Interestingly, it was his Dutch teammate Gakpo who had the most success in this regard. The former PSV forward succeeded in bypassing his opponent 64.58% of the time on average per game.

In contrast, Salah and Chiesa had lower success rates, likely due to their preference for passing rather than dribbling. Despite this, Chiesa remains a risk-taker, completing 1.5 take-ons per game, although his success rate is below 50%.

Dribbling Statistics (per 90)
Statistic	Chiesa	Salah	Diaz	Gakpo
Take-on Completed	1.5	1	2.3	1.7
Take-on Success Rate	42.17%	35.53%	54.03%	64.58%
Penalties Won	0.1	0.1

Crossing

Chiesa blows his potential future teammates out the water

Chiesa excels significantly in crossing, surpassing the capabilities of his potential future teammates. The Juventus star made over three times as many attempts to deliver the ball into the penalty area and successfully completed more than four times the number of crosses compared to Salah, Diaz, and Gakpo.

This ability could bring a new element to Slot’s team. Unlike the current wingers who tend to cut inside to use their stronger foot, Chiesa is adept at playing on the right wing, reaching the byline, and delivering crosses. He’s equally comfortable on the left wing, confidently using his left foot to create opportunities for the strikers.

Crossing Statistics (per 90)
Statistic	Chiesa	Salah	Diaz	Gakpo
Crosses Attempted	4.8	1.5	0.9	1.2
Crosses Completed	1.7	0.4	0.3	0.4
Cross Accuracy	34.19%	24.39%

Note: All statistics in this article are courtesy of Squawka (Correct as of 27/08/2024)

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