Liverpool's forwards are firing as they look to win historic Quadruple
Salah is back in top form, Mane has starred more than ever, and Diaz, Jota and Firmino are also firing as clinical Liverpool look to win the Quadruple – while Manchester City struggle to keep up in the scoring stakes
- Liverpool are top of the Premier League and their Quadruple hopes are still alive
- Their formidable forwards all got in on the act in the win over Manchester United
- Mohamed Salah scored twice and Luis Diaz, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota starred
- The red-hot form of the Reds’ attackers may see them pip rivals Manchester City
- City carve out plenty of chances but, as the numbers show, toil in putting them in
Ralf Rangnick, as usual, shot straight from the hip when assessing how his Manchester United side were so viciously torn apart by Liverpool. ‘I would say the club has 25 Formula One cars,’ he said. He isn’t wrong, either.
United, meanwhile, have been left with a fleet of battered and sluggish vehicles thanks to years of mismanagement – and it is only now, after Rangnick was recruited, that they have shown any indication they are keen to right their wrongs.
What will irk them the most is that Liverpool do not have the same dilemma. Manchester City don’t either. Both clubs have been run correctly over a prolonged period, and they are reaping the rewards. For the former, that was clear at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah burst into top form after scoring in Liverpool’s win over Manchester United
Salah was back to his swaggering best and helped his side tear apart their fierce historic rivals
Quite simply, they tore their arch rivals apart. Their attackers linked up gracefully and with precision, time and time again. They dropped silkily into acres of space between the lines, combined at speed and were ruthless when finishing chances.
The Red Devils are hardly the best barometer to test out the qualities of an attack, of course, but Liverpool did their jobs perfectly, even taking a pause for breach.
They have gone back to the top of the Premier League and piled the pressure back on City. They are there deservedly, and will fancy their chances of winning the title.
And with the trophy in sight once again, the Quadruple is sensationally still alive.
Sadio Mane was also on target at Anfield, after stepping in to dazzle during Salah’s dip in form
It is hardly a surprise that they are battling it out for silverware once again, but even the most hardcore Reds supporters wouldn’t have believed that history would be possible at this stage of the season. Four accolades is an extraordinary achievement.
Simply reeling off the list of names in their front three positions, though, is more than enough to send a chill down the spines of every team they face up against.
Mohamed Salah is one of the club’s greatest ever players, while Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have flourished next to him while also bedazzling on their own. Diogo Jota and new arrival Luis Diaz have also been scoring goals for fun.
Liverpool rushed forward their summer plans to January when signing Diaz from Porto, after Tottenham mounted a charge to snap him up. That decision has since paid dividends, with the attacker contributing superbly after settling in.
Not even City, free scorers themselves, are able to match the firepower on display in Klopp’s outfit. The one question mark over Liverpool’s arsenal was Salah, but he looked to have burst back into being his old self after his display against United.
Luis Diaz, a new signing in the winter, tapped home the opening goal to spark Liverpool’s rout
The superstar, bear in mind, hadn’t scored from open play for two months, with three penalties his only goals from 11 games across all competition. At Anfield, though, he returned to his peak and unleashed his deadly dribbling and shooting to great effect.
Salah rounded off a fantastic team move comprising of 25 passes. Every Liverpool player with the exception of Virgil van Dijk was involved, and Mane was able to clip the ball expertly into his team-mate’s path, with the strike unerring.
Diaz’s opener saw Salah tee him up with a ball across goal, and the former handed over to Mane for the third. Jota, who was brought on as a second-half substitute, set up Salah for the fourth and final goal of the evening, to the adoration of Anfield.
Salah has reached 30 goals this season, and Jota – who on current form is the most likely attacker to be forced to settle for a spot on the bench, already has 21. The fact he is often made to watch on highlights just how superb Liverpool’s frontmen are.
A glimpse into their statistics reveals the level of their prowess. They are all clinical, creating chances at will and have remained in top gear at the perfect time.
Salah was played through and clipped over David de Gea, via a deflection, for the hosts’ fourth
Unsurprisingly, Salah leads the way for the Merseyside outfit’s attacking ranks. His 30 goals have come in his 42 appearances across all competitions, with 39 of those starts. He averages 115.3 minutes between goals, and averages 0.8 goals per 90.
With 12 assists to his name, eight more than his expected amount, and 75 chances created, his influence is crystal clear. He has also taken 391 touches inside the opposition penalty area this season, showing he is involved in almost every attack.
Jota has also impressed this campaign. With his 21-goal tally coming from 45 games – and 33 starts – he has arguably been equally as important as his team-mates around him. Notably, his average minutes per goal is 141.1, bettered only by Salah.
The table below also reveals that Mane has been heavily involved in scoring goals but rarely setting them up. He has played 42 matches this term, resulting in a grand total of 3167 minutes. In that time, he has netted 19 goals and picked up two assists.
Diaz has caught the eye since breaking into the limelight with Liverpool. He has made 17 appearances so far, scoring four goals, one of them in the rout of United.
Diogo Jota (right) has 21 goals in all competitions and is another Liverpool star in top gear
Across the board, his numbers are lower, but this can be explained by him playing under half the amount of games as his club-mates. He has impressed, though, with his selfless running and trickery on the ball helping his side attack their opponents.
Firmino, meanwhile, has found his minutes restricted this term. Despite being their leading No 9 for years, this season he has taken on a support role in his 31 appearances. His total of 11 goals so far is perhaps lower than he would like.
He has, however, played almost half the game time as Salah – and in that time, has recorded four assists, the joint second-most tally behind their talisman.
Taken as a unit, these five Liverpool attackers better their rivals at City.
City have similar riches in their forward positions, but less reliable figures. Their overall statistics this season, meanwhile, are notably lower across the board.
Pep Guardiola is clearly crying out for a new striker, one capable of scoring goals with ruthless efficiency, and he will know that, out of his current options, there is not an attacker he can hang his hat on. This may well ruin their title ambitions.
They have created at will, with their intricate passing patterns and off the ball movement helping them carve through teams. But the end product has been lacking on an eyebrow-raising number of occasions, unlike their foes at Anfield.
The conundrum facing Guardiola is neatly encapsulated by Gabriel Jesus. He is undeniably a tricky forward who poses a threat, but also misses clear-cut chances. His manager has dropped him at times this campaign or reshuffled his pack.
Gabriel Jesus sums up Manchester City’s dilemma – a lack of cutting edge despite their quality
Raheem Sterling has often been on target this season, but City struggle to finish off chances
Sometimes, Guardiola has opted to field a false 9 instead of an out-and-out striker. That changes the dynamic of their attacks, but has also sparked frustration.
The likes of Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish have dropped into a more forward role at points, with Bernardo Silva also afforded free roam. Rotations are key for City, as this allows them to retain their unpredictability.
As a result, they have shared the goals among them more than their counterparts at Liverpool. Across all competitions, Riyad Mahrez has scored the most out of the five, with 22 goals. Behind him is Sterling on 14, while Silva and Foden both have 11.
The average amount of minutes between goals for them is typically higher than the likes of Salah, Mane and Jota, too. Notably, their number of assists have also been spread out, with just the versatile Jesus reaching the milestone of 10 as it stands.
The table below also shows that all of City’s attackers create a host of chances. In fact, aside from Salah, Guardiola’s forwards have carved out more openings. Grealish, despite his limited appearances, holds the highest number in the team.
Riyad Mahrez (R), out of the five City attackers looked at, leads the way with a tally of 22 goals
So how do the two heavyweights shape up against each other?
Well, Liverpool’s forwards are more reliable in finishing off chances, a major plus point spearheading their quest for the Quadruple, and they have also scored more goals than City’s. In the Premier League, this will likely prove crucial.
With the Carabao Cup trophy already in their cabinet, Klopp’s men are now gunning for the top-flight, the Champions League, and the FA Cup. They now lead the domestic table after beating United, and are the favourites to ease past Villarreal.
Chelsea await in their final Wembley showdown, meanwhile.
Judging by their current form, Liverpool will truly fancy their chances of securing a spot in the history books – and they owe much of that to the superstars finding the net. Their fanbase anxiously awaits, and now their heroes will look to deliver.
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