Liverpool Transfer News: Reds have OBVIOUS winner in Alphonso Davies vs Milos Kerkez race

Liverpool are on an absolute heater of a season so far, sitting atop the Premier League and the Champions League, while also having qualified for the EFL Cup semi-finals.

Since the Reds' only loss this campaign against Nottingham Forest in September, Liverpool have been on a 20-game unbeaten run across all competitions.

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Injuries have started to spring up, but the team's squad depth has been able to manage the growing list of absentees so far.

On the face of it, there is barely a chink in the armour of Arne Slot's Liverpool outfit. The only noticeable weak point is the defensive left flank, where Andy Robertson is having a less-than-optimal run of performances.

Since conceding penalties against Southampton and Real Madrid, the Scottish captain has made a number of errors, with his latest poor decision proving costly for the Reds - getting sent off against Fulham, resulting in the team playing with 10 men for the majority of the game.

As such, Liverpool are on the lookout for a new recruit in the position to sure up the defence and relieve the pressure on Robertson's shoulders.

Two players in particular are being linked to the club, and in order to work out who would be best suited to Liverpool, we took a deep dive into their stats using FBref, to give you a clear comparison between the pair.

Milos Kerkez vs Alphonso Davies

It was reported in November that Anfield Watch understands that the club has asked Bournemouth for permission to enter into preliminary talks with Kerkez, and it has since become clear that the Cherries are already looking at potential replacements for him.

Meanwhile, Davies is set to be available as a free transfer at the end of the season, as Bayern Munich have struggled over the past 18 months to tie him down to a fresh contract. As such, the 24-year-old would be a steal for the Reds, and current reports are that Liverpool might be setting up a meeting with his team about a possible move.

Both players are standout left-backs in the current market and both are below the age of 25, creating the opportunity for Liverpool to bring in a player who can dominate the left-hand side of defence for a number of years.

The blueprint for a Liverpool full-back denotes that attacking play is important, and according to FBref, both Kerkez and Davies are more than comfortable taking a shot at goal, delivering an assist or backing up the forward player.

Kerkez delivers 0.87 shots per 90 and 0.17 non-penalty expected goals (xg) and expected assisted goals (xAG), meanwhile, Davies performs to a similar level on the same metrics - 0.8 shots per 90 and 0.16 npxG and xAG.

For shot-creating actions, Davies ranks in the 90th percentile at 3.21 per 90, but Kerkez isn't far behind at 2.52 per 90.

In regard to their passing and general play, Davies is far and above the better player, producing the best numbers among full-backs for passes attempted (71.42 per 90), pass completion (88.4%), progressive passes (5.55 per 90), progressive carries (4.78 per 90) and successful take-ons (2.24 per 90).

This may in context be put down to the way Bayern Munich play their football, by suffocating teams with passes and gradually breaking down the opposition, meanwhile, Bournemouth opt for more of a direct playing style, whereby counter-attacks are more preferred.

When looked at through Kerkez's stats on the same metrics, the Hungarian international performs weaker, but his numbers are still impressive, producing 3.81 progressive passes per 90 and 2.65 progressive carries per 90. The major difference is the number of passes that he attempts - 41.73 per 90.

Bournemouth play in the Premier League whereas Bayern Munich are in the Bundesliga, so the overall standard of opposition that each full-back comes up against should also be considered.

Finally, in terms of their defensive play, it is Kerkez who takes the edge, leading the Canadian in interceptions per 90 (1.08 takes 1.00) and clearances per 90 (2.61 takes 1.77).

One clear standout performer

On the whole, it is clear that Davies is the superior player. His attacking stats are better than Kerkez's and his overall ability on the ball is much more developed. This may in turn be because Davies is 24 years old, whereas Kerkez is only 21, but the quality that the Bayern Munich star has is undeniable.

In a Bournemouth team where defending is slightly more imperative, Kerkez narrowly outshines Davies, but the differences are marginal and the Canadian's experience of playing in Europe and for his country makes him a much more well-rounded player.

Should Liverpool be looking for a project, then Kerkez might be the best fit. However, in my opinion, it seems as though the Reds would benefit more by bringing in Davies would is almost tailor-made for Arne Slot's attacking and fluid style of play.

As a free transfer, it would be a move that would send shockwaves around Europe, given the standard of footballer that Liverpool would have secured, all while being able to put any transfer fee budget into facilitating his wage demands - as he is currently earning around £200,000 a week in Germany.

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