Comparing Memphis Depay’s 2018-19 stats to Liverpool’s current forwards
Former Manchester United man Memphis Depay has been linked with a surprise move to Liverpool this summer – but would the forward fit in at Anfield?
According to the Daily Mirror, Liverpool are closely monitoring Depay, who has impressed for Lyon and the Netherlands since leaving Old Trafford in 2017.
We’ve taken a closer look at the 25-year-old’s 2018-19 league stats in comparison to Liverpool’s current forwards – Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge.
Goals and assists
In 35 Ligue 1 appearances this season, Depay has recorded 10 goals and nine assists for Lyon, from a total of 2,647 minutes on the pitch. As a result, his record stands at a goal or assist every 139.3 minutes.
That is in an inferior league, of course, but it betters Firmino’s 2018-19 Premier League record of a goal or assist every 145.6 minutes (12 goals, six assists) and is only slightly down on Mane’s 22 goals and one assist at one every 134.2 minutes.
Of Jurgen Klopp’s first choices, Salah unsurprisingly leads the way with 22 goals and eight assists at a rate of one every 108.7 minutes.
Those records pale in comparison to Liverpool’s man of the moment Origi, who has scored three goals and one assist at one every 92 minutes.
Sturridge, meanwhile, is expected to leave Anfield this summer, and it’s notable that his record is the lowest of the group, average a goal or assist every 166.7 minutes, having scored twice and created one goal in the Premier League this term.
READ: Memphis Depay isn’t ‘finding his level’, he’s just playing with freedom
Passing and attacking
There possibly needs to be a Ligue 1 asterisks next to this, but it is noticeable Depay is the most prolific chance creator in comparison to his potential competition on Merseyside. Indeed, he is one of the best in Europe in this regard.
The Dutchman averaged 3.6 chances created per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 for Lyon, with Salah the next closest on 1.9 per 90 minutes.
Firmino (1.5), Sturridge (1.4) and Mane (1.3) follow closely behind, with Origi way back with the lowest total of 0.7.
In terms of dribbling, Depay (2.0 successful dribbles per 90 minutes) is second only to Salah (2.2 per 90), although it should be noted the duo have two of the worst completion rates at 58.8% and 52.4% respectively.
Firmino completes the third most with 1.7 per 90 and also has the highest success rate at 70.8%, while Mane and Origi both complete 1.5, although the Belgian has a higher success rate (62.5% vs 51.7%).
Sturridge again finds himself bottom of the pile, completing 0.9 per 90 at the third lowest success rate (56.3%).
Three players – Depay, Firmino and Sturridge – have very similar pass completion rates, with Firmino the best in this regard with 80.8% and Depay and Sturridge close behind on 80%.
Origi is the most wasteful in possession, completing 70.4% of his passes in the Premier League, while Salah (75.9%) and Mane (78.2%) are nestled in the middle of the pack.
READ: Europe’s top 10 chance creators, 2018-19: Messi, Willian, Maddison, Depay…
Defensive contributions
Klopp famously demands a high work-rate from his forwards out of possession and it may be an area Depay would have to work on if he were to move to Anfield.
The former Manchester United man averages the fewest tackles per 90 minutes with 0.4, although his success rate of 40% is at least higher than Salah’s 33.3%.
Salah averages 0.6 successful tackles per 90 minutes, slightly higher than Sturridge’s 0.5. The England striker averages the second fewest after Depay but does record the best success rate at 71.4%.
Firmino and Mane both make 1.0 successful tackle per 90 minutes at similar success rates (50% vs 52.6%), while Origi leads the way with 1.5 at the second highest success rate (68.2%).
In terms of interceptions, Mane records the most with 0.4 per 90, while Origi is at the other end of the spectrum, average 0.0 per 90.
Depay averages the second most with 0.3, followed by Firmino and Sturridge on 0.2 and Salah on 0.1.