How Federico Chiesa’s Transfer Impacts Liverpool: A Comparison with Mohamed Salah

Liverpool’s new signing, Federico Chiesa, has everyone talking. He’s known for his speed and skill on the wings, having made a name for himself at Fiorentina and Juventus. But now, he’s joining a team where Mohamed Salah has been the main star for years. So, how does Chiesa compare to Salah?

Salah has been a key player for Liverpool, with 213 goals and 88 assists since he joined in 2017. With Chiesa now part of the squad, it’s important to see how these two players compare. This will help us understand what Chiesa can offer and how he might fit into Liverpool’s future.

Chiesa vs. Salah: Two Dynamic Attackers

Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah are both incredibly versatile forwards and they bring different styles to the pitch.

Both players can play in multiple position across the front line. Chiesa has been deployed as a left winger, right winger, attacking midfielder, and even as a central striker. Similarly, Salah is primarily known for his role as a right winger but can also operate effectively on the left or as a central striker.

While both Salah and Chiesa are more than capable on either flank, Salah is more consistently used as a right winger, where he often cuts inside to shoot with his left foot. Chiesa, however, has been utilised more flexibly, including in central roles.

How Well do Chiesa and Salah Take Their Shots?

Looking at the shot distribution, we clearly see that Salah predominantly took his chances from the central and left areas of the pitch with an above expectations performance from the central area of the box. Last season, Salah underperformed when it comes to xG with an xG of 21,21 generated in his Premier League games while scoring 18 goals.

Meanwhile Chiesa has over performed when shooting from the wings, and also scored above his xG with 9 goals scored from an xG of 6,43. Another important aspect is penetrating the box, with Chiesa having only 64% of Mohamed Salah’s touches into the penalty area. And we can also see that Chiesa takes more of hist chances from farther out, with more of his central shots being from outside the box.

Salah’s Playmaking is Dominant, Yet Chiesa’s Dribbling is Superior

What sets Mohamed Salah apart from the competition is how he has evolved into an outstanding playmaker. Last season, Liverpool averaged 32 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, the highest in the league, and Salah was responsible for 4.82 of those actions.

He is one of the world’s leading playmakers when it comes to creating chances, with an Expected Assisted Goals (xAG) of 0.43 per 90 minutes, placing him in the 99th percentile across the top five leagues.

Federico Chiesa is more of a player who creates his own shots, with 26.7% of his shots being self-created. However, he has so far lagged behind Salah in overall team contribution for creating chances.

Chiesa tends to attempt more playmaking actions when deployed on the right wing, often sending low crosses into the box. His preference for using his right foot aids his crossing from that side, making him one of the best crossers in Serie A last season.

Another important aspect of Salah’s transformation is his reduced dribbling and take-ons. He has just 0.88 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, placing him in the 18th percentile among the top five leagues. Meanwhile, Chiesa focuses more on dribbling and retaining the ball rather than seeking early passing options, with 1.36 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, placing him in the 84th percentile.

What Will Chiesa’s Role Be in Arne Slot‘s Liverpool?

With Salah in the final year of his contract and at the age of 32, questions arise about whether Chiesa will replace him in Arne Slot’s Liverpool. Slot prefers wingers who excel in one-on-one duels, advance the ball, and are difficult for opponents to read. Chiesa fits this profile well.

Signing Chiesa does not necessarily mean that Salah’s future at Liverpool is over or that he will leave at the end of the season. However, it could indicate that Liverpool is preparing for a transition. Currently, Slot faces a depth issue on the right wing, with Salah’s only direct replacements being Ben Doak or possibly Harvey Elliott.

By signing Chiesa, Liverpool can be confident that they have a capable backup for Salah, who is already experienced and can integrate well into the system. The main question remains whether Chiesa will adapt to the Premier League and whether he will be content with a reduced role and fewer minutes compared to his time at Juventus.