Liverpool are purring underneath Arne Slot, who has inherited a top-class crew and all that however is instilling his imaginative and prescient with expertly labored dispatch.
Towards Ipswich City, the newly-blooded model demonstrated its adaptability; towards Brentford, at Anfield, Slot’s managed method was discernible; towards Manchester United, Outdated Trafford was squashed and the Reds began to appear like a real drive.
Nottingham Forest are up subsequent, headed to Merseyside as they give the impression of being to protect their unbeaten report to begin the marketing campaign – a win and two attracts – they are going to face one in every of their hardest exams towards Slot’s Liverpool, who’re hungry to increase their excellent begin.
Liverpool crew information
Harvey Elliott will play no half within the coming run of fixtures after fracturing his foot with England U21s this week. The 21-year-old has scarcely featured but this time period however was anticipated to step up with the fixtures coming thick and quick.
That apart, positivity. Alexis Mac Allister accomplished a full session of coaching on Thursday and is in rivalry after a health concern with Argentina final week. Furthermore, Curtis Jones has made his restoration and might be hoping to begin.
Federico Chiesa could possibly be concerned for the primary time after signing from Juventus in a deal value £12.5m final month, however he might not be thrown proper into the beginning combine. Regardless of his possible begin on the bench, Slot may wish to think about dropping Diogo Jota for the primary time this season.
Why Liverpool ought to drop Diogo Jota
Jota has began all three of Liverpool’s opening matches underneath Slot and has scored one objective and claimed one help. He performed an important position towards Man United earlier than the break, working tirelessly and prodding the backline to permit the likes of Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah to capitalise, however it wasn’t his most interesting exhibiting by any stretch.
Jota failed to finish every of his 5 tried dribbles towards the Crimson Devils whereas additionally shedding all ten of his contested duels. It was a show that underscored the depth of Liverpool’s attacking expertise, and that the Portuguese isn’t immovable at quantity 9.
And anyway, his harm report leaves lots to be desired. Jota should be dealt with deftly, particularly when contemplating the forthcoming dash of fixtures, as they don’t wish to overwork him and find yourself with out the ahead for a time frame because of harm.
Cody Gakpo will hope for his first beginning berth of the season, however it’s Darwin Nunez who ought to get the nod this time. The dynamic striker has an excellent report towards at the moment’s opponents and has the talents to succeed on the entrance of Slot’s system.
Slot should unleash Darwin Nunez
Nunez scored 18 targets and claimed 13 assists throughout all competitions final 12 months, although he continued to ebb and stream from the anticipated fluency, along with his inconsistent performances within the last third.
He is bought a myriad of weapons to harm opponents however comes up quick too typically. He is wasteful and erratic. He is additionally sensible, heralded as Liverpool’s “agent of chaos” by many – as relayed by journalist Theo Squires.
Darwin Nunez: PL Stats Comparability | ||
|---|---|---|
Stat (*per recreation) | 22/23 | 23/24 |
Matches performed | 29 (19) | 36 (22) |
Objectives | 9 | 11 |
Assists | 3 | 8 |
Massive probabilities missed | 20 | 27 |
Cross completion | 67% | 72% |
Massive probabilities created | 11 | 11 |
Key passes* | 1.0 | 0.9 |
Dribbles* | 0.6 (49%) | 0.4 (43%) |
Duels gained* | 2.8 (38%) | 2.4 (38%) |
Stats by way of Sofascore | ||
Nunez’s lack of development throughout his two campaigns within the Premier League marks the crux of the issue, for he has but to raise his underlying numbers and continues to be simply as profligate, if no more so. He missed 27 huge probabilities final 12 months regardless of solely scoring 11 occasions, which merely is not adequate.
Nonetheless, the electrical Nunez scored dwelling and away towards the Tough Bushes final 12 months and might be assured {that a} beginning berth may prolong that scorching streak, particularly after the way of his contribution within the Metropolis Floor fixture earlier in 2024.
He is solely featured off the bench this 12 months however Nunez may hit the bottom operating on this new tactical system by merely latching onto the imperious type of his aspect’s talisman Salah. The 32-year-old has already scored three targets and added three assists throughout three video games for the Reds, and also you would not wager towards him making his mark at the moment.
If Nunez does fail to attain, ought to he begin, he may also discover his playmaking expertise tuned to the Egyptian’s frequency, with ten of his 17 assists for the Merseysiders positioned at Salah’s toes. This stage of interchangeability could possibly be essential, maintaining Liverpool’s adversaries guessing.
A few of that is right down to Salah’s brilliance, after all, however Nunez is a tireless ahead with sharp actions and clever consciousness. His incapacity to hit the mark with consistency doesn’t nullify the expansive scope of his skillet.
Certainly, as per FBref, Nunez ranks among the many prime 10% of forwards throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues over the previous 12 months for assists, the highest 11% for shot-creating actions, the highest 17% for progressive carries, and the highest 21% for tackles per 90.
That last metric is especially fascinating, highlighting a tenacious and prepared method to his defensive recreation, at all times keen to assist out. Slot has a vibrant and broad vary of attacking expertise at his disposal, however the Uruguayan is arguably essentially the most distinctive of gamers and might be hungry to showcase his distinctive expertise.
Liverpool might be anticipated to defeat Forest on dwelling soil at the moment, however Espirito Santo’s aspect have proven energy of character and tactical understanding throughout the opening weeks, and they won’t roll over for the hosts.
Forest have taken the most quantity of photographs within the Premier League this season with 53 – Liverpool are joint-second, with 48 – with their 21 photographs on track additionally essentially the most within the division. That is an early alarm bell for the Anfield aspect however means that Nuno Espirito Santo’s aspect are apt to surge ahead, and thus are vulnerable on the counter. Nunez territory, that.
Slot can be sensible to make a tweak or two, and with Jota’s harm report and up to date exhibiting within the Premier League, it is absolutely the time to unleash Nunez, who was as soon as labelled an “unstoppable” drive when at his greatest by Jurgen Klopp, and get a style of his model underneath new administration.
The Uruguay worldwide ought to be unleashed forward of Jota by means of the center of the pitch, with Salah and Diaz flanking him on both aspect.
