Mohamed Salah is contention for the Premier League’s Golden Boot despite Liverpool’s struggles this season.
But the 19-goal Egyptian doesn’t feature in Liverpool’s top three players this season, if you go by WhoScored’s data-driven metrics.
Their ranking of Liverpool’s top-three performers will raise eyebrows.
1. Sadio Mane – 7.31
Mane’s goal away to Leeds on Monday night ended a 10-game drought in the Premier League.
He’s on course for an end-of-season tally of 10 Premier League goals, which would be his lowest since joining Liverpool.
But after five WhoScored man of the match awards, Mane’s average rating is more than 0.2 higher than any of his team-mates.
His tally of dribbles completed per 90 (2.6) ranks him in the Premier League’s top six, and he’s also in the top 20 for chances created per game (1.6).
2. Nathaniel Phillips – 7.09
Phillips has been an unlikely solution to Liverpool’s centre-back injury crisis.
The Reds have won six, drawn two and lost three of the matches he’s started.
Phillips, a two-time WhoScored MOTM, wins 5.5 aerial duels per 90 – the fourth-highest in the Premier League.
And the Bolton-born defender’s 4.3 clearances per game put him in the league’s top 20.
3. Roberto Firmino – 7.03
Firmino has scored only six Premier League goals this season, fewer than summer signing Diogo Jota.
That’s despite the fact that Jota missed two and a half months through injury and has played 1,500 fewer minutes than Firmino.
But WhoScored have the Brazilian in the top three with an average of just over seven out of 10.
He’s in the top 20 for assists (with six) and top 25 for dribbles completed per 90 (1.7).
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