Liverpool did not bring an onslaught to Paris, but Jürgen Klopp's side did deliver heavy artillery to Thibaut Courtois' Real Madrid goal on Saturday night.
Unfortunately, for Liverpool, Madrid's defences did not budge and the Reds' barrage was futile, for the most part effortlessly stifled.
Had it been the first time this season, one could overlook it as the result of an extensive period wearing out on the club's attacking super stars. But this kind of inefficiency was not an anomaly. Rather, it has been a trend throughout the campaign.
In three finals now, Liverpool have failed to find the back of the net from open play and they have continued to struggle against low-block defences like Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid — who sit back and form a sturdy wall in front of Klopp's men.
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This is an area that FSG simply have to address in the summer. Liverpool may not only need an efficient attacker who can be clinical in front of goal but also a creative midfielder who can make an impact in the final third. Liverpool have lacked that type of midfielder since the departure of Philippe Coutinho, and it's the one position where Premier League rivals Manchester City possess absolute superiority — with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Bernado Silva and İlkay Gündoğan all capable of chipping in with goals from midfield.
Fábio Carvalho, who will join the club in the summer, could be a long-term solution. But Liverpool need ready-made quality too and they may have the perfect player in the market.
Christopher Nkunku has enjoyed a spectacular campaign this season. He has scored 35 goals and registered 20 assists in 51 games for RB Leipzig and he is exactly the type of player who could fix Liverpool's woes. Not only is he a clinical finisher in front of goal, he is capable of playing as a midfielder and has the ability to create chances as well as scoring them.
Last season, Nkunku ranked in the 99th percentile for goals and assists in the Bundesliga among his positional peers, as per FBref. He also ranked in the 90th percentile for key passes and the 92nd percentile for shot-creating actions.
He will not be cheap, with Leipzig hoping for around £85m for his services, but Liverpool's good relationship with the German outfit could reduce that price with some nifty negotiations. If Sadio Mané decides to move to pastures new, Liverpool should have more than enough in the budget to make a move. The ball is now in Julian Ward's court and it's up to him to make the most of it.
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2022-05-30 02:00:00Z
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