Pedro Neto looks like a ready-made Liverpool player. The 20-year-old bagged a stoppage-time winner against Chelsea on Tuesday.
We’re jumping on a bandwagon here, admittedly, but Pedro Neto really does look ready-made for Liverpool. Not that Wolves would appreciate that view in the slightest.
Neto scored a wonderful winner against Chelsea on Tuesday evening. He received a pass on the counter, ran at the Blues’ defence, and fired a fantastic low drive into the back of the net.
All in the 95th minute, too.
While that obviously draws attention – and led to this article, let’s be honest – Neto’s suitability goes far beyond this. He ticks multiple boxes at Anfield.
Ready-made
At his core, Neto is a pacey, energetic winger who likes to play direct football. And boy do Liverpool love those – they’ve built enormous success on the back of them.
But more than that, Neto is versatile. He can play on the left, on the right, as a no.10 – even as a centre-midfielder. [All stats per Whoscored]
In fact, in Neto’s three starts as a centre-midfielder, he managed seven interceptions and two tackles. That’s not just playing the position but adapting to the role, even defensively.
And we know how much Liverpool love players who can play several positions. Virtually everyone in the squad can and has played at least two.
But Neto’s form suggests he could play at least four. He even played up front against Chelsea and scored a winner – so make that five.
Despite all this moving around, the 20-year-old remains wonderfully productive going forward. In 12 Premier League starts, for instance, Neto failed to create a chance just once.
He managed at least one shot on goal in nine out of 13 games in total (including a sub appearance). His dribbling is outstanding, too – Neto has beaten a man at least once in ten out of his 12 starts.
He’s also virtually never caught offside. Only three times in 13 games and that trio were against Liverpool (twice) and Manchester City.
You can’t help but look at all of this, consider the type of players Liverpool like in wide positions, and come away thinking Neto is perfect. And he’s only 20 – this is just the beginning.
Repeat practice
Liverpool have a history of signing multiple players from clubs. Southampton represents the peak of that (Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne, Sadio Mane, and Virgil van Dijk) but they did it to AS Roma, too (Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker).
It’s a simple strategy. You find clubs who develop players in a way you like and then pay them handsomely to reap the rewards yourselves.
It may be worth trying that with Wolves. Liverpool signed Diogo Jota for £41m in the summer and he’s been a revelation. All things considered, we think Neto could be, too.
Wolves would want an awful lot of money but right now, it appears Liverpool should consider paying it.
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