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Liverpool may be on the verge of another major transformation, but the club are already quietly overseeing a succession plan, writes Andy Ramsay.
And then there was one.

Last summer, Sadio Mané joined FC Bayern Munich. This summer, it will be Roberto Firmino who will live the last years of his career at another club.

As Liverpool fans bid farewell to the brilliant Brazilian, only the irrepressible Mohamed Salah remains from their legendary top three.

At the peak of their combined powers, there was arguably no attacking trio in the entire history of European football or the Premier League that could rival them. In five seasons (2017/18 to 2021/2022) he scored a total of 338 goals and 139 assists, in a period in which Liverpool played 282 competitive matches.

Jürgen Klopp’s firepower has helped the club win five major trophies: the Champions League (2019), UEFA Super Cup (2020), Premier League (2020), Carabao Cup (2022) and FA Cup (2022 )

For example, the 2018 Champions League final lost to Real Madrid, the first year that the famous top three all played together.
En route to that year’s final, the trio scored a total of 30 goals – a league record!

For context, that’s more than Real Madrid’s famous front three of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo record 28 goals and the 27 goals scored by Barcelona’s legendary goalscorer Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Replacing the trio would therefore never have been easy.

Finding value in the transfer market

After a turbulent season on and off the pitch for the Reds, it feels like the club will need to invest heavily this summer if they are to recapture their previous successes.

Fans have rightly criticized the owners, and in some cases the manager, for not investing in an aging and injury-prone midfielder last summer.

So far, Liverpool’s recruitment under Klopp has been nearly flawless, as can only be expected in the uncertain world of football transfers.
Firmino (£29m), Mane (£30m) and Salah (£36.9m), for example, cost the club £95.9m in transfer fees.

In the mad vacuum of the football economy, this can only be described as incredible business. At their peak, their transfer value has risen astronomically, with Firmino (£90m), Mane (£150m) and Salah (£150m) expected to cost around £390m, per Transfermarkt.

This would represent a 306.7% increase in value over the Reds’ initial investment.
For last summer, Klopp and the Liverpool recruiting team were heralded as the standard-bearer in the transfer market for good reason.

They have become masters of spotting talent, fitting into the mold of the manager’s energetic press, who then scoffed at their transfer fee.

The transfer fee, usually between £30m and £50m; players signed, mostly in the 23-24 age group. It is a brain-based approach with two main characteristics: 1) enough data to draw useful conclusions about each transmission target; and 2) sufficient growth for talent to exceed market expectations under the guidance of a world-class coach.

lose sight of the ball

That’s what makes last summer’s neglect of midfield reinforcements so frustrating.
The club were in a strong position on the pitch and wise investments in the middle of the park could have given momentum.
In fact, the exit could have been prevented last season.

It’s hard to understand how a club widely regarded as one of the best-run clubs in Europe can go wrong.

Did the owners lose focus and instead invest their time in the eventual sale of the club? Was the loss of key personnel to blame? Mike Gordon’s short-term resignation to face a potential sale and Michael Edwards’ retirement and career hiatus from football undoubtedly caused a stir.

What about human error? After coming so close to winning an unprecedented treble in the 2021/2022 season, it may have been miscalculated that midfield reinforcements could wait.

The truth is that it’s probably a combination of all of these factors, among others. While the recklessness in midfield has been rightly criticized in recent months, the transfer model has largely been successful.

It was the transfer inactivity in midfield that let the team down last season, not the buying of unsuccessful players.

The other players signed in the past three years have all been largely successful and show future planning: Diogo Jota (26), Luis Diaz (26), Ibrahima Konate (23), Darwin Nunez (23) and Cody Gakpo (24) are all looking forward to it. to a bright future with the Reds.

With all the talk of a big summer transfer window for Liverpool, there is almost no evidence of any striker being linked with a move to Merseyside.

Most of the work required in this area has been completed in the past two years. Mane’s replacement

lose sight of the ball

That’s what makes last summer’s neglect of midfield reinforcements so frustrating.

The club were in a strong position on the pitch and wise investments in the middle of the park could have given momentum.
In fact, the exit could have been prevented last season.

It’s hard to understand how a club widely regarded as one of the best-run clubs in Europe can go wrong.

Did the owners lose focus and instead invest their time in the eventual sale of the club? Was the loss of key personnel to blame? Mike Gordon’s short-term resignation to face a potential sale and Michael Edwards’ retirement and career hiatus from football undoubtedly caused a stir.

What about human error? After coming so close to winning an unprecedented treble in the 2021/2022 season, it may have been miscalculated that midfield reinforcements could wait.

The truth is that it’s probably a combination of all of these factors, among others. While the recklessness in midfield has been rightly criticized in recent months, the transfer model has largely been successful.

It was the transfer inactivity in midfield that let the team down last season, not the buying of unsuccessful players.

The other players signed in the past three years have all been largely successful and show future planning: Diogo Jota (26), Luis Diaz (26), Ibrahima Konate (23), Darwin Nunez (23) and Cody Gakpo (24) are all looking forward to it. to a bright future with the Reds.

With all the talk of a big summer transfer window for Liverpool, there is almost no evidence of any striker being linked with a move to Merseyside.
Most of the work required in this area has been completed in the past two years.

Mane’s replacement

The Senegal international’s influence on Liverpool’s recent triumphs has been huge.
His aggressive and direct play, tough physique and lack of dramatic personality made him a dream player for Klopp.

But it wasn’t always clear. Following Mane’s signing, the German tactician admitted he missed the chance to sign the player while coaching Dortmund, although a misjudgment of his attitude appears to be the reason:

“I made a few mistakes in my life and one of my biggest mistakes was not taking Sadio when I was at Dortmund.
“We were together in an office and I spoke to him. In hindsight I wasn’t sure, but it really was my fault!

“He’s an excellent guy and life has given me a second chance to work with him and hopefully we can take both.”

The rest, they say, is history.
After signing for Southampton in the 2016 summer transfer window, Mane made 259 appearances for the Reds, scoring 120 goals and providing 48 assists for his teammates.

This equated to a goal contribution in 64.8% of his appearances whilst playing for the club.

In his prime, Mane was one of the best forwards in the game. His contributions to his goals, complemented by his physicality and direct style of play, made him a nightmare to play against. Not an easy man to replace!

However, his replacement was introduced six months before his departure and made an immediate impact.

Diaz signed for £37m from Porto and emulated a lot of what was great about Mané: he was quick, direct and courageous on the ball.

Diaz also possesses a modest and undemanding personality, much like the Senegalese international.

But a statistical analysis of the two actors shows that while they share a lot in common, they also have different strengths and weaknesses compared to each other.

To make the comparison fair, Mane’s stats here are from the 2017/2018 season, when he was of the same developmental age and playing under Klopp’s style of football at Liverpool.

Diaz’s stats are only from the 2021/22 season as last season was heavily plagued with injuries and trying to get fit for next season.

In terms of possession and passing, the Colombian tops most key metrics used to judge a winger (stats via FBref):

However, comparing the two based on the raw data on goals, assists and quality of attacking performance, Mane is way off the mark:

Time will tell if Diaz can match in terms of goals and assists.
Stats suggest Mane was better at spotting good chances and knowing where the biggest attacking threats were during a game. Diaz, on the other hand, seems to have better ball retention and dribbling skills.

However, these stats come from Diaz’s first six months at the club as he acclimatised to the Premier League and Klopp’s system.

Next season, the Colombian will be a first-team regular after a frustrating knee injury cut short his first full term and we should have a better idea of ​​his role and impact in the side.

Klopp could guide Diaz to become more active in key areas and focus on quality rather than quantity.

For example, Diaz has more shots (3.57-2.88), shots on target (1.22-1.07) and passes that result in shots (3.85-3.25) than Mane. ; however, Mane has higher xG (0.44-0.34), shooting accuracy (37.1%-34.2%), and targeted actions (0.58-0.38).

When the famous front three were at their best, Salah was usually the most prolific in terms of goals and assists, followed by Mane and then Firmino.

However, all three were regularly summoned throughout the season. If Liverpool are to challenge for major titles again, the burden will have to be shared between the strikers, whether Diaz, Gakpo, Jota or Nunez – or the squad as a whole.

A lack of energy in midfield and a weak defense were a key factor in Liverpool’s poor form last season in the league, but attacking performance was also down from the previous season when the Reds were at their worst. best and were fighting for the title.

The number of goals scored went from 94 to 75, the number of shots from 729 to 605 and the number of shots on target from 256 to 212.

Firmino’s replacement

Similar to Mane and Diaz’s changing of the guard, Firmino’s replacement was brought in six months in advance.
His name: Cody Gakpo.

It’s hard to define Firmino’s role at Liverpool over the years and the man Gakpo is set to replace – the brilliant Brazilian has played the bad nine like no other.

After Liverpool’s famous 5-0 victory over Man United at Old Trafford in 2021/22, Klopp underlined this point:

“Mo gets a lot of attention and deservedly so, but Bobby, for people who know football, I’m pretty sure by the time he’s finished playing people will be writing books about how he interpreted the wrong nine positions.”

“I’m not saying he made it up, or that we made it up, but with the way he plays it feels like it from time to time.”

It’s his blend of technical prowess, selfless defense, keen awareness, creativity and goal threat that has made him a fan favourite. Indeed, while praising the Brazilian, Klopp explained his unique and multifunctional role in his tactical system:

“He IS a connector; the best offensive defender I’ve ever seen in my life.
“He is a ball chaser, incredibly tactically intelligent and capable of playing in the tightest spaces; to make good decisions in a very short time.

“Also, he can score goals, which is why we are so happy when he rewards himself once in a while.”

Comparing Firmino and Gakpo is more difficult to do.

Firmino had plenty of experience playing the false nine in 2017/18. He has played there since Klopp’s arrival in 2015, playing in a fully functioning and well-proven Liverpool team at the time. He recorded his best individual season: 27 goals and 14 assists

Furthermore, although Gakpo had a strong individual season, he was used more on the flanks for PSV Eindhoven before joining Liverpool in January.

He was also tasked with learning the unknown position of the false nine in a dysfunctional Liverpool side that lacked confidence and had an aging midfield.
Given the context of these two seasons, there is reason to celebrate the central role of Gakpo.

And it seems that was the plan when he signed the Dutch international.
Prominent Dutch manager and football presenter Hans Kraay reported just before the Reds signed his man that Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders saw his compatriot as a ‘missing link’.

In fact, just like Firmino, his role in the team will often be to dig deep into midfield and control play.

We don’t talk about it anymore, but when Klopp first used Firmino centrally, much of the media felt that Liverpool should sign a traditional No.9.

The Brazilian was then considered an attacking midfielder and often played on the touchline; He was therefore not a centre-forward.

But Klopp’s vision was to have a conductor with the spatial awareness, tactical acumen and technical skills to link the game together so that Mane and Salah’s direct playing styles could thrive. With the famous top three established, the calls for a traditional number 9 quickly died out.
When it comes to attack performance, there’s not too much in between

As Klopp alluded to, it’s Firmino’s selfless attitude and defensive acumen that has made him such a unique asset:

Firmino is ahead on key defensive metrics, but against the backdrop of this statistical comparison, Gakpo’s numbers are still very impressive.

For example, compared to other players in the same position last year, Gakpo scores as an elite defensive forward on these metrics.

Over 99% of the population for tackles, 98% for tackles won, 99% for dribbles tackled and 99% for combined tackles and interceptions

Find an heir to the Egyptian king

Statistics suggest Liverpool have done their homework, with Mane and Firmino’s replacements well placed to forge their own history at the club.

As Diaz and Gakpo haven’t quite settled down yet, with an unfortunate injury to the former and the latter ending up with a dysfunctional team, both have been impressed enough to suggest they are two-thirds of the legendary three up front can replicate and perhaps even surpass them.

However, the last one left, Salah, will be the hardest to replace.
Thankfully, even at 31, he doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

He possesses not only the offensive attributes of the elite, but also the mental attributes of the elite of the greatest players; Klopp doesn’t have to think long to get the best out of him, because he already does it himself.

You have the feeling with Salah that falling records will only motivate him even more to achieve the next goal

In just six seasons, the African superstar has already scored the most goals for Liverpool in the Premier League era, recently surpassing Robbie Fowler’s record of 128.

Considering the Toxteth-born poacher is considered to be one of the most talented finishers of all time at the club, it underlines Salah’s genius already surpassing him.

He achieved this by playing as a winger who also possesses top-notch creative qualities and provided a slew of chances and goals for his teammates during his time at Liverpool.

The No.11 is already one of Liverpool’s top five goalscorers of all time and has already achieved legendary status.
How far he climbs up the list will depend on how long he stays at the club.

With two years left on his contract, it is possible to suggest he could reach top three status; perhaps even in the top two if he extended his stay beyond two years.
Ian Rush’s record is unlikely to be broken; at his current rate of 0.62 goals per game, Salah would need to play another 260 games, just over five more seasons in which he scored at the same rate.

When the time comes to find an heir for the Egyptian king, this will give the scouts and the transfer committee the most difficult task.
But in their work to oversee both Mane’s and Firmino’s successors, there is every hint that they are capable of doing so.