The role of number nine in the Liverpool team remains very much up for grabs under Arne Slot this seaso
The depth of Liverpool’s squad has been a key factor behind their ongoing challenge for major honours this season. But when asked to select Arne Slot’s first-choice starting line-up, there is unlikely to be much debate among supporters.
Alisson Becker is the clear number one between the sticks despite Caoimhin Kelleher impressing whenever required, while Trent Alexander-Arnold remains the right-back choice and Andy Robertson has again edged ahead of Kostas Tsimikas at left-back.
In midfield, while Curtis Jones continues to play an important role in several positions, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are the double pivot with Dominik Szoboszlai the preferred number 10. And in attack, few would argue against Mohamed Salah being on the right and Cody Gakpo the left.
Ten out of the 11 nailed down. Which leaves the central striking role. And that’s where matters become somewhat less straightforward.
That Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota nor, as has emerged an option this season, Luis Diaz have been able to truly grasp the initiative at number nine for any concerted period of time points to Liverpool strengthening in that position during the summer, particularly with Nunez and Diaz already attracting interest from elsewhere.
That, though, can wait. There are 14 Premier League games, a League Cup final and, Liverpool will hope, more than two Champions League matches with which to contend over the remainder of the ongoing campaign.
And a closer look at the respective records of those starting as a number nine is intriguing.
Jota began the season as the first-choice down the centre of the attack and scored the opening goal of Slot’s reign in the 2-0 win at Ipswich Town. But he has started only a further nine times in the position – none in the Premier League since October – during which he has scored only once. Of Jota’s remaining strikes, three were from an attacking midfield or second striker role, while three have come as a substitute.
Nunez has started 17 times as the number nine, and has netted only four times in those games. His other two goals were the dramatic late brace from the bench at Brentford last month.
Diaz, meanwhile, has been the starting central striker on 11 occasions – including 10 of the last 12 Premier League games – in which he has scored six goals. However, they came in just three games – a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen, a brace at Tottenham Hotspur and his most recent at West Ham United on December 29.
With Liverpool having played 39 times this season, that leaves just one game – the 3-2 League Cup fourth round win at Brighton in October where they effectively started with no centre forward whatsoever.
All told, that means the starting number nines have contributed 12 goals to Liverpool’s season total of 93 – less than half the tally Mohamed Salah has managed alone, admittedly while an ever-present on the right flank. Gakpo has 15 from starting on the left.
But with Gakpo a doubt for the visit of Wolves on Sunday, Diaz would have to shift over to the left leaving it a straight fight for the number nine role between Nunez and Jota, neither of whom have started a Premier League game this year.
To whom Slot would then turn will be given the first chance to prove they can spearhead Liverpool’s attack going into the decisive part of the campaign. They will need to take their opportunities in more ways than one.
