Why Liverpool DESPERATELY want Antoine Semenyo | OneFootball

Slot's side is facing a lot more defensive low-blocks this season. Defences are setting up deeper and therefore close up a lot of space for the club's attackers in the final third.

As a result, Liverpool are struggling to create clear-cut chances and dominate games. Because teams won't give them space, the games are on a knife edge and that's why results have been so close, often decided by a moment of genius or luck either by Liverpool or their opponents.

Now in order to breakdown defences who are compact and position themselves deep in front of their goal, you need great combination play, players who understand each other seamlessly. This takes time. But there's another cheat-code that relies more on individual brilliance.

That is a player who thrives in tight spaces and who can take players on in one vs one situations.

This type of player is key against compact defences because they can draw one, two or maybe even three defenders with them if they successfully complete their take-on attempts.

In the process with those defenders being drawn away, the player in possession creates space for their teammates.

Right now, Liverpool don't really have a take-on specialist. Cody Gakpo has succeeded in just 16 of his 47 attempts. Mo Salah's return is even worse having succeeded in four of his 19 attempts.

Neither Gakpo nor Salah are players who are good at taking players on in tight spaces. Their first inclination is not to draw defenders away but to attack the centre and take shots on.

Liverpool's only dribbler orientated attacker is Rio Ngumoha, and he actually proved decisive in the club's victory over Burnley when he came on and through taking on a couple of players he created a chance for Jeremie Frimpong that led to a corner from which ultimately the Reds got their winner.

© IMAGO - Antoine Semenyo Liverpool

But while Ngumoha is great and extremely talented, you cannot rely on a 17-year-old. Liverpool need more and this is where Semenyo comes in.

He's someone who thrives in tight spaces. He's both quick and extremely strong, able to use his body very effectively to shield the ball and beat his opponents.

This season in the Premier League, he's ranked fifth for successful take-ons (20). Last season he ranked in third place with 69 successful take-ons.

Being ambipedal (comfortable with both feet) means he's unpredictable for opposition defenders. He can go to his right and his left and that makes him very difficult to defend against.

Right now, Liverpool are missing that unpredictability on the wings. Gakpo and Salah are great players but you always know what they are going to do.

With Semenyo, defenders just can't guess. And that is why he is on the club's radar.