Arne Slot Diogo Jota Liverpool 2024-25
© IMAGO - Arne Slot Diogo Jota Liverpool 2024-25
The emerging reports that Liverpool will be actively pursuing a deal for Brighton’s Joao Pedro as early as the January transfer window have understandably raised the eyebrows of Reds all over the world.
Pedro has seven goal involvements in nine games this season - mixed in with a stint on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury - and over the past year has become one of the most exciting attackers the Premier League has to offer.
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He has been an essential part of Brighton’s rise, scoring six goals in as many games in their Europa League run last year. He has shown the potential to cut it with the very best, so it’s no surprise Liverpool are interested.
What can Joao Pedro add to Liverpool?
Importantly, though, it’s not just Pedro’s level of talent that makes him such an interesting proposition - it’s how he does it.
In analysing Pedro’s game, it is noticeable that his best work comes when he drops deeper to receive the ball and link play. This allows Brighton’s Danny Welbeck, Kaoru Mitoma et. al. to move into the space he has vacated and attack defenders directly.
He also naturally drifts over to the left-hand side to do this - not as an out-and-out left winger, but instead as an inside left forward. A recent average position map from Brighton’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth demonstrates this (Pedro is number nine).
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As a result, Pedro’s preferred, natural mode of operation is as a false nine. Liverpool have a storied history with this mould of player, as club legend Roberto Firmino arguably perfected the role in Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League and Champions League-winning sides.
Diogo Jota - Liverpool's False Nine
And to try and carry this on, Liverpool signed Diogo Jota, a player who likes to drop from advanced positions to pick up the ball and carry it so that dynamic wide players can run into the space. Now, does that remind you of anyone?
Take a lot at this average position map from Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Wolves earlier this season, one of Jota’s (number 20) last games before his injury. Notice anything?
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In the two maps, Jota and Pedro essentially occupy the exact same position.
As a result, Arne Slot would be able to use Pedro as a direct replacement to Jota who, whilst still dynamic, has an unfortunate injury history.
Can Pedro replace Jota?
The two have very similar play styles but Pedro arguably does it more effectively. He’s averaging 3.69 progressive carries per-90 this season to Jota’s 2.36, and achieves 1.69 successful take-ons per-90 to Jota’s 0.36.
Pedro’s shot creating actions per-90 of 2.77 outweighs Jota’s 1.27, and understandably so do his expected assisted goals of 0.23 per-90 to Jota’s 0.15.
Importantly, Pedro is also a dogged performer in the defensive phase. His willingness to press is shown in his 1.69 tackles and interceptions per-90 to Jota’s 1.09.
This isn’t to say Jota needs to be replaced as soon as possible or even needs replacing. But it is accepted that he struggled to find true form to start the season under Arne Slot.
Yet everything about Pedro indicates that he could be exactly what Slot - someone who can expose space for Mo Salah, work tirelessly in defence, and importantly contribute goals himself.
EXCLUSIVE: The FULL lowdown on Joao Pedro as Liverpool READY to complete transfer