The changes to Liverpool’s forward line has thrown up two unlikely heroes so far – but will either of them be trusted to start games soon?…
LIVERPOOL’s forward line loves the attention.
It bursts into action creating records, shushing Newcastle United’s hard-man, bullyboy tactics. It writes the headlines when they need to be written.
Liverpool’s forward line would appear on Strictly Come Dancing if it could be amalgamated into one chauvinistic, flashy, attention seeking vessel.
Rio Ngumoha was the latest to etch his name into Liverpool hearts and ‘Devil’s club’ folklore. They find a new way to win, to upset and shape the conversation of what Liverpool need from attacking numbers. They do it with cult heroes, baby-faced teens and all-time football greats.
Newcastle was horrible. It was fully Everton away at times. Everything was ratcheted up but after going 2-0 up, Liverpool should’ve been comfortable against ten men. I was livid that they didn’t have another shot until the 16-year-old’s winner, despite its let-off.
These opening three league games feel like an endurance sport, simply something to get through. That Liverpool have done with maximum points is fantastic. Beating Arsenal would be a mark of champions in this respect.
While things will need to improve defensively, it’s in attack where Liverpool’s major questions remain.
For three consecutive games, there hasn’t been an impactful, high-quality attacking substitution to make on around the hour mark.
The contributions of Ngumoha and Federico Chiesa have been match-winning in the Premier League so far, yet neither should be the player you turn to as your first attacking change.
That void will hopefully be filled prior to the end of the transfer window in the shape of a record-breaking transfer of Alexander Isak. It’s wise not to sleep on the significance of the Isak deal – if it happens. Imagine how you would feel if Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester City were signing him.
If that deal happens and Liverpool go into the season with the current attacking options plus Isak, would you be happy?
I’m saying yes, personally. But then I’m still slightly conflicted.
The club chose to sell Darwin Nunez, a decision I agree with. Nunez made 47 appearances last season, scoring and assisting on seven occasions (his Premier League xG was 6.91). His importance and place in the pecking order dwindled throughout the season – a trend which repeated from 2023-24. By the end, he might have been third choice No.9 for many.
However we ranked him, it remains factual he started five Champions League games last season as well as Premier League fixtures at home to Real Madrid and away at Arsenal and Newcastle.
If Chiesa is now bumped up to fifth choice – possibly even fourth if we don’t sign anyone – would you potentially want him starting those games?
And if so, where?
I’ve got no interest in Chiesa at ‘9’. It feels redundant in lots of ways but perhaps most damningly because he’s nowhere near the physical level of Hugo Ekitike and a fit Isak in that position.
He isn’t the player you want getting in a tussle with centre-backs or receiving the ball with his back to goal.
The Italian has always been a winger and one adept to play either left or right. Chiesa is all weird angles and shots…lots of shots. His best season in 2020/21 yielded 15 goals and 11 assists. This return wouldn’t be expected, but putting an actual number on minutes, goals and assists for Chiesa is guesswork.
It’s fair to say two things exist in this conversation.
- We’ve not seen Chiesa play semi-consistently in a wide-forward position.
- He’s arguably never been as fit as he is now in a Liverpool shirt.
We don’t know how much of a risk Arne Slot views starting a fit Chiesa in games of importance. All the narrative has been about building his physical and endurance levels.
There will always be unsuitable games for players, but that applies to mostly everyone apart from Mohamed Salah. Cody Gakpo isn’t brilliant in big away fixtures, as an example.
The comparative riddle is this: is a front four of Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike and Isak better than one of Salah, Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Nunez? It remains beyond tragic that we can no longer factor Diogo Jota in this.
Time will tell. But the key variable here is arguably Chiesa. It’s about how much he’s trusted and where. Most importantly it’s a question about whether he can deliver if given the opportunity.
He has the will of everyone to succeed. There is a soundtrack to Liverpool success already accompanying his every performance.
As for Rio, I don’t think anybody has a problem with him now being sixth choice after his heroics on Monday.
