Rodrygo To Liverpool: Why This Move Would Be Smarter Than It Looks

Experience, pace and tactical value all in one player

After writing about Ekitike and Isak over the weekend, there is another name that keeps coming up, Rodrygo.

He has not played much this past season, but that is not down to form, it is down to a certain French arrival in Madrid who changed the entire front line. Rodrygo has not suddenly become a worse player. He has simply been edged out by circumstance, and if Liverpool are thinking about structure, quality and availability, Rodrygo makes a lot of sense.

He is versatile, he is quick, 33.9kmh top speed last season, he has won everything and, most importantly, he is available. There is no adapting period or development arc, you know what you are getting.

A Reliable Forward Across All Three Positions

Rodrygo can play across the front three positions, left, right and centrally. That is not just a theoretical claim. He has done it at the highest level, winning 2 ECL and 3 league titles for a Real Madrid side that demands control, execution and intelligence in all areas of the pitch. The table below indicates the flexibility in the positions played, for the three season before the frenchman arrived. In all positions, he is either on par for goals or assists, or within 2 goals/assists.

His shot-creating actions, progressive carries and link-up play as a forward are consistently in the highest percentiles. In the three seasons before the last, he has a 0.57 goal involvement per 90 or 1 every 158 mins, with a key pass per 90 of 1.72 and an xA + xG of 0.66 per 90. His output in previous seasons has been excellent, goals, assists, pressing, carrying, all there in the numbers. Ignore last season. It is not relevant to the discussion. When he plays regularly, he delivers. That kind of profile fits what Liverpool need. The squad will be lighter if players leave, and you need someone who can step in at multiple positions without the drop-off, Rodrygo does that. The below attacking has pass network from a recent game, indicates how involved he is, wearing the number 11 in the image, all lines are dark and thick, indicating a high volume of passes and threat creation.

A Five-Forward Plan Starts With Rodrygo

If Liverpool sign Rodrygo, it changes the conversation. You might only need five forwards, rather than six. That is how much he gives you in terms of tactical cover. The image below, shows the on ball zone from a recent game where he operated from the right, and drifting into the RHS, showing he could cover for Mo if needed.

He can play as Mo Salah’s backup, he can take a role through the middle, and he can offer width if Luis Diaz departs or has a rotation option with Cody Gakpo. You do not need three players to cover three roles. One player can manage all three, with quality. The below threat heat map, from a recent game, indicates he created threat across the front positions, with 10% from the LHS, 3% from zone 14, 14% from the RHS, and 22% from the wide right position.

Rodrygo trains regularly, he stays fit, he plays a full season when given the minutes and has a strong availability record, playing over 3500 mins in the two season prior to the last. You cannot say that about every forward being looked at this summer. In a team aiming to go deep in four competitions, that is not just valuable, it is essential.

Experience, Speed and Consistency

Rodrygo is quick, not rapid, at 33.9 kph, but still capable of carrying the ball at pace in transition. He suits a system that looks to punish defensive errors, and he knows how to move inside and finish when it matters. He does not need ten touches to get into a shooting position. He knows when to release the ball and when to strike. His off ball work is not to be underestimated, either, as the image from a recent game shows, he has the largest off ball zone of the team and as a forward his tackle, blocks and interceptions are all in 90+ percentiles.

He has also won everything, the Champions League, La Liga, World Club Championship, and European Super Cup. That experience does not just help him, it raises the level of the team around him. He knows how to deliver on the biggest stage, and that matters when you are trying to win league titles and challenge in Europe. Rodrygo brings standards, and Liverpool need players who already know what that looks like.

A Move That Weakens a Rival

Arsenal are watching this situation too, that is no surprise, Rodrygo would be a perfect fit in their system as well, and they are building towards a proper title push. If Liverpool make this move first, it is not just about strengthening their own squad. It is also about stopping a direct rival from improving.

Smart recruitment has to think beyond one player. You have to look at the impact on the wider league. If Rodrygo ends up at Arsenal, it will be a problem. If he joins Liverpool, it becomes a solution.

The Final Word

Rodrygo brings flexibility, quality and consistency. He is young, only 24, he has already delivered at the top level, and he fills three roles in one. That opens the door for Liverpool to build a more streamlined forward group, one that can handle the volume of fixtures without losing quality.

There is no need to adapt to the level. There is no guesswork about how he might fit, his profile fits, he has already shown it.

We have talked about Ekitike and Isak this week, both have strengths and weaknesses. Rodrygo is the one who gives you high-level performance, positional versatility and availability all in the same player. That is not easy to find, If the opportunity is there, Liverpool should take it.