Luis Diaz scored the fewest goals of Liverpool's senior forwards in 2023/24. A look at his data reveals what Arne Slot needs to do to help Díaz score more.
Brilliant read and great insight. I do think mane benefited more than Salah from the role of Bobby as he was never a ruthless attacker. I wonder how Jota is helping Diaz with his clever movements and just being on his wavelength which he struggled to create with Darwin who clicked with Salah and with most attacks originating from Trent’s channel also a factor.
You might have hit on something regarding Jota. I looked up Díaz's goals and assists from matches in which the other forwards have appeared. It's not perfect as there is obviously crossover as Liverpool field three forwards, plus there will be lots of games when both players don't complete the 90 minutes.
But.
Díaz's goals and assists per 90 from games in which the following players also appeared:
Jota: 0.65
Nunez: 0.53
Salah: 0.45
Gakpo: 0.43
Jota is the smallest sample, but also the most impressive.
I really appreciate you combing the data for my eye test, I just have always felt the less clinical attackers always benefit from intelligent attackers the most.
Salah is a very intelligent attacker and finds his way to goal with space himself or uses others. Mane and Diaz I feel need assistance or benefit the most from the assistance of a high IQ attacker.
In an aim to describe how I see it ; Salah may benefit 10% but Diaz would benefit 20% as example with space being created for them rather than them needing to create it themselves.
There’s lots of examples with Firmino and Mane , Salah and Nunez and now Jota and Diaz.
Be great to see Jota build that sample size up, he’s wonderful.
Great stuff, Andrew! Interesting insight on the shots from carries vs non-carry shots.
I think a switch to a 4-2-4 (at times) with Szoboszlai moving alongside the striker, which is more reminiscent of Liverpool's 2021-22 system which Díaz arrived into and started off so well in, could also help him.
Brilliant read and great insight. I do think mane benefited more than Salah from the role of Bobby as he was never a ruthless attacker. I wonder how Jota is helping Diaz with his clever movements and just being on his wavelength which he struggled to create with Darwin who clicked with Salah and with most attacks originating from Trent’s channel also a factor.
You might have hit on something regarding Jota. I looked up Díaz's goals and assists from matches in which the other forwards have appeared. It's not perfect as there is obviously crossover as Liverpool field three forwards, plus there will be lots of games when both players don't complete the 90 minutes.
But.
Díaz's goals and assists per 90 from games in which the following players also appeared:
Jota: 0.65
Nunez: 0.53
Salah: 0.45
Gakpo: 0.43
Jota is the smallest sample, but also the most impressive.
I really appreciate you combing the data for my eye test, I just have always felt the less clinical attackers always benefit from intelligent attackers the most.
Salah is a very intelligent attacker and finds his way to goal with space himself or uses others. Mane and Diaz I feel need assistance or benefit the most from the assistance of a high IQ attacker.
In an aim to describe how I see it ; Salah may benefit 10% but Diaz would benefit 20% as example with space being created for them rather than them needing to create it themselves.
There’s lots of examples with Firmino and Mane , Salah and Nunez and now Jota and Diaz.
Be great to see Jota build that sample size up, he’s wonderful.
Thanks once again!
Great stuff, Andrew! Interesting insight on the shots from carries vs non-carry shots.
I think a switch to a 4-2-4 (at times) with Szoboszlai moving alongside the striker, which is more reminiscent of Liverpool's 2021-22 system which Díaz arrived into and started off so well in, could also help him.
Early days under Slot, though, so time will tell.
Thanks, Michael. Good to see you've joined the Substack revolution!
Haha how long have you been on it?
Only regularly posting stuff for a few weeks.