It’s been a disappointing start to the new season despite spending heavily in the summer for Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool. While the defence was always a cause of concern the most worrying aspect of the Reds performances this season has been the lack of an attacking spark. The movement and cohesion of Reds in attack tore apart the Premier League last year, they became one of only three teams in Premier League history to score over 100 goals in a single campaign. In Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool had 2 world-class centre-forwards who played at a frightening pace and the duo scored 52 league goals between them.
While the Reds sold Suarez to Barcelona this summer, injury has limited Sturridge to just 3 league appearances this campaign. Any team would struggle without two forwards of that ability, but the decline has been alarming. Having signed Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert in attack – Rodgers’ signings are yet to to convince the fans and the club. The Italy international has failed to score or register an assist in nine league matches for his new team and his perceived lack of application has been heavily criticised. Liverpool are already believed to be considering signing another striker to help solve their attacking problems and they are reportedly preparing a £30m bid for Porto’s Colombian star Jackson Martinez. Here are some things Martinez brings to a side:
Goals Goals Goals:
If there was one thing that the current Liverpool side are lacking as compared to last season – its goals. The 28 year old Columbian is a proven goal-scorer and even though the Portuguese division isn’t as strong as the England’s top flight Martinez has shown his ability at every level he’s ever played at. Martinez joined Porto from Mexican club Chiapas in 2012 and has been a prolific goal-scorer since moving to Europe, having scored 53 goals in 70 league games. He scored 0.92 goals per 90 minutes at this summer’s World Cup for Colombia, and has a sensational return of 1.34 per 90 in the Champions League so far this season.
Variety:
Liverpool have struggled to score goals in the absence of Sturridge. Blessed with a lethal shot on either foot, Martinez has proven himself as a clinical finisher no matter which foot he uses and he is no slouch in the air either. While neither Sturridge nor Balotelli are lightweight, Martinez would most definitely bring additional power and physicality to the Liverpool attack. While providing another option in attack, Martinez also poses a real danger in the air.
Work-rate:
Liverpool new-boy Mario Balotelli has shown a willingness to run and close down defenders in spells at Liverpool yet he hasn’t really made much of it. In the case of the Columbian hot-shot it’s a key feature of his game as he defends from the front for club and country. A very hard worker – he has completed the joint-second-highest number of tackles for forwards in the Champions League this season (7). A stat very Ian Rush-esque.