'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAGCAMAAAG6Kc9iAAAAsVBMVEVki0JaQiJ6dnaRaEyds3JmlUoqMkAmNEB+ekR0i3pyfkDf3/diiUhiYFBij0QWEBhcgzxkcnaHjWByl0wsNCZki0SZbnavo6OjQB5wgYuzvdt4n1TNz9+9q6VcaGpoh0RMJkBMAACpsaFYWFZ6hURyZjhQTlp8o1ZUWGKZlWSjm4dikUJkkV7RpWhyREhgh0CFdHRki1KJPiAqKjKlmY2PoWJcQkh0cG6RnXhmkz6DsWbcnemUAAAACXBIWXMAAA7DAAAOwwHHb6hkAAAATUlEQVQImQXBhRGDAAAEsIfi7u7SFg532H8wEpQsfEj3D9MHPIdI7HMGOkmsCZw4G1TYSv2EcM9ga77eIv9RGO1FWcc+p9DGjhYqUwFe20oGk6VPx78AAAAASUVORK5CYII='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Iker Muniain
It’s crept up upon us quickly, but it is just seven weeks until the transfer re-opens again and the rumour mill is just beginning to begin it’s cycle with the Premier League wide open.
Each team up the top end of the table will know that the right acquisition in January could prove the difference between a sustained title challenge and dropping out into hope of a top four finish or clinging onto a cup run to salvage the season.
Liverpool have been in fine fettle this campaign, lying second in the table to Arsenal and in possession of arguably the most feared strike partnership in English football with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in superb form so far.
With Philippe Coutinho doing the business behind them, Brendan Rodgers has identified that he will need reinforcements should injuries, suspensions or fatigue affect his in-form trio.
With that in mind, should Liverpool target Athletic Bilbao’s 20-year-old starlet, Iker Muniain , who shot to fame (in England) in his hometown club’s dismantling of Manchester United just 18 months ago in their march to the Europa League final.
The Basque-born forward made his debut as a 16-year-old and has become a mainstay of the Athletic squad, operating in behind the striker, in the mould Coutinho currently occupies for the Reds.
However, Muniain has not been as clever with creating chances as his counterpart in the Liverpool set-up, creating just six opportunities in 12 games for Athletic, with Coutinho managing to set up nine in just six appearances in his injury-hit season, though he is yet to claim an assist, with Muniain having assisted two goals for Athletic.
The man from Bilbao does boast a superior passing accuracy to Coutinho though, with his 82% success rate beating the Brazilian’s 79%, though it does come in as less than Victor Moses, Coutinho’s current stand-by, who has an 85% passing accuracy and has created as many chances and scored as many goals (1) as Muniain.
But Muniain possesses a more dynamic style of play than Liverpool’s current steady build-up gives them, as evidenced by the amount of take-ons he has completed already this season.
Muniain has beaten his man on 31 occasions so far, while even doubling Coutinho’s tally to match the amount of games played leaves him trailing, having done so 14 times, at a lower success rate (52%) than Muniain (57%), while the Basque man is far superior to Moses, who has completed just 42% of his take-on attempts.
Muniain has also been fouled a whopping 27 times already this season, while his 55% shot accuracy also blows Coutinho (45%) out of the park.
It’s needless to say that Coutinho is a key part of this Liverpool set-up, having formed such a good understanding with the SAS up front.
But at just 20 years of age and room for further development, Muniain would be an outstanding impact player to have in reserve for any of the three men currently doing the damage for the Reds.
