In a new series of articles, FantasySports.co.uk will analyse the likely formation and performance impact that players would have on some of the Premier League’s greatest clubs. Today, we ask the question: ‘How would Genoa striker Krzysztof Piatek fit in at Liverpool?’
Our analysis series is to assist Fantasy Premier League managers in understanding the impact Krzysztof Piatek could have in the English top-flight.
Analysis: How would Genoa striker Krzysztof Piatek fit in at Liverpool?
Krzysztof Piatek is the most exciting young striker to hit Serie A in some time. Of course, the 23-year-old diamond in the rough was unearthed by Genoa, a club renowned for finding talent and developing it.
Piatek arrived at Genoa during the summer for €4 million from Cracovia. Teams around Europe are already lining up to pry him away from Genoa.
Barcelona, Manchester City, Juventus, and Liverpool are just four of the teams linked with the Genoa goal machine.
The good news for these teams is Genoa are a selling club. President Enrico Preziosi would sell his own mother if he could.
Genoa typically move players in and out each transfer window and it isn’t uncommon for the team to have lost its best players in January.
Piatek has netted nine Serie A goals in seven games. He added four more in the club’s Coppa Italia win over Lecce which pushed his season total to 13 in just eight matches.
Base on his current strike rate, Piatek would fit in well at Liverpool. Of course, that is if he can continue plundering goals. Liverpool have gone from a team scoring goals for fun last term to a side unable to find the back of the net with such frequency.
Manager Jurgen Klopp could use Piatek down the middle to rest striker Roberto Firmino more. The Brazilian had a short preseason following the World Cup and could still be fatigued.
Klopp is also unsure of Daniel Sturridge’s future. The England international’s contract expires in the summer and it doesn’t look likely he will get a contract extension. At least not right now.
Sturridge is playing well and has scored four goals in nine games. Most have come from the bench.
Liverpool look set to sell Divock Origi. A transfer buy that has never panned out, Origi was bought on the back of good international performances. The Belgian is another shining example of why players shouldn’t be purchased following a good international tournament.
Piatek has played alongside a second striker for Genoa. It is a role he wouldn’t play at Liverpool. Klopp prefers to play with a lone striker. Genoa have played 3-4-1-2 this season and it has worked well for them.
How dependent have Genoa been on Piatek? He has scored nine of their 12 Serie A goals.
On Tuesday, rumours of Piatek leaving Genoa made the rounds. It was the biggest story on a day void of top-flight football. Piatek’s rumoured moved coincided with Genoa manager Davide Ballardini being sacked. Despite getting a team lacking talent into 11th place, the manager was dismissed despite doing great things at the club.
Piatek could suffer under new manager Ivan Juric. He had a previously failed coaching stint at Genoa and was sacked within a few weeks of being appointed.
Fantasy Premier League managers should wait on Piatek, if he arrives in the English top-flight. He has done very well at Genoa, but he is still an unknown quantity.
