Liverpool to unleash forward more prolific than Erling Haaland | OneFootball

Richard Hughes signed a forward more prolific than Erling Haaland for Liverpool, and Arne Slot can finally unleash him.

Let's be honest the terrifying Norwegian is probably the best striker in world football right now. Haaland already has 20 goals for club and country this season, and October has only just begun.

He's a formidable player and someone who has been terrifying defences since he was a teenager. In a different world, Haaland may have even ended up at Liverpool.

There was a time when he was recommended to all the big clubs in England including Manchester United, Arsenal and the Reds. But at the time no one envisaged the potential he would go on to fulfil at Molde, Red Bull Salzburg and then Borussia Dortmund.

Liverpool won't rue that mistake too much. They've had brilliant strikers of their own recently, including Roberto Firmino, who was a real thorn in Manchester City's side when he was playing for the Reds.

Now there's a new era at Anfield with Arne Slot at the helm and he has two pretty remarkable forwards at his disposal in Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.

The latter has started his career in a Liverpool shirt brilliantly. The former is one of the best forwards in the Premier League.

But there's another option for the no.9 role, who has been overlooked a little bit by the Dutchman ever since his arrival at the club.

Even though he's output is actually better than Haaland's at Manchester City.

Few would have imagined this would be the case when Richard Hughes made Federico Chiesa his first transfer in the summer window of 2024.

The Italian had always been highly rated but he was unwanted at Juventus and was available for just £12m.

This has proved to be a bargain and potentially one of Hughes' best buys. Chiesa has gone onto become a cult hero and has scored some famous goals already in a red shirt.

In fact, in his career so far he has averaged a goal contribution every 77 minutes for the Reds. Meanwhile, Haaland has averaged a goal or assist every 80 minutes for Manchester City in his career so far.

Delving further into this season, Chiesa has four goal contributions for Slot's side. These contributions have come with just 153 minutes played which means he's averaging a goal or assist every 38.5 minutes that he spends on the pitch.

Those are again Haaland levels and with Ekitike perhaps not 100 per cent fit against Chelsea on Saturday as well as Florian Wirtz having played a lot of minutes, Chiesa deserves a chance to be unleashed.

Slot should line up with the Italian alongside Alexander Isak, which gives Liverpool the best possible chance of success at Stamford Bridge.