Is Rodrygo The Dream Luis Diaz Replacement?

How Liverpool Would Setup With The Madrid Man.

Life as a Liverpool fan this transfer window must consist largely of elation over recent signings, conversations with friends starting “have you seen we’re linked with this player?” and the ring of football montage music in their ears after spending a few hours researching their latest rumour.

Rodrygo is the latest player being typed into YouTube search bars, and as such, take a look at why the Reds are targeting the 24-year-old and how he will suit Arne Slot’s side this season.

Untapped Potential

Despite making over 250 appearances for Real Madrid – and winning two Champions League titles in the process – it’s difficult to claim that Rodrygo has fulfilled his potential as the headline-maker he was touted to be.

The Brazilian has spent his career so far as the B-side to Los Blancos’ attack, sacrificed for the benefit of Vinicius Jr or Kylian Mbappe. He has been Carlo Ancelotti’s workhorse, asked to be doubly aware of his defensive duties to accommodate Vinicius and Mbappe’s poor work rates.

Yet Rodrygo’s exceptional technical skillset - from his diverse passing range to his ability to dribble through tight spaces – he has always shown that he has the talent to lead a world-class attack.

Key Stats

· 22 Goals and Assists across all competitions in 2024/25

· 5.07 Progressive Carries per 90 (top 14%)

· 3.98 Carries into Final Third per 90 (top 2%)

· 11.33 Progressive Passes Received per 90 (top 11%)

· 2.15 Successful Take-Ons per 90 (top 20%)

· 85.7% Pass Completion (top 2%)

· 0.80 Times Dispossessed per 90 (top 8%)

Data from FBRef. Percentiles taken relative to positional peers in Europe’s Big 5 Leagues, UCL, UEL over the past year.

In addition to this, the 24-year-old has shown a tendency to produce big moments, often demonstrating his clinical finishing on high-pressure occasions, such as when he opened the scoring in the Madrid Derby in the Champions League last season.

All these qualities make Rodrygo a near-perfect fit for the attack Liverpool are rebuilding this summer.

The Slot Revolution

Liverpool’s summer renaissance has raised many questions as to how Slot sees his side lining up this season, and the same can be said for Rodrygo. With Luis Diaz seemingly destined to leave and widespread doubt over Darwin Nunez’ Anfield future, the signature of Rodrygo serves, at the bare minimum, as an ample replacement.

Yet to establish the winger’s likely roles in red, it’s worth looking at how Liverpool’s squad profile has changed under Slot’s revolution.

The acquisitions of Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong are crystal clear indications of the Dutch manager’s intention to play with wide, attacking full backs this season. The arrival of Hugo Ekitike suggests that Slot wants his striker to be confident dropping deeper and linking up play. Florian Wirtz’ signature brings world-class combination play and tactical flexibility.

Put in this new context, Rodrygo isn’t just a ‘nice’ replacement - he’s a player handpicked for a specific role. The Brazilian has reportedly made it clear in recent weeks that he prefers to play on the left – and the stats back this up. In the 2024/25 season, Rodrygo produced eight goals and assists in eight starts when playing in an attacking left-sided position. From the right, he produced nine in twenty-one starts (data from WhoScored).

In addition to this, Slot’s aforementioned desire for high and wide full backs means that Liverpool’s wingers are likely to occupy the half-spaces during build up – areas where Rodrygo has found past success.

To accommodate the full backs, Ryan Gravenberch will likely adopt a similar role to the one he played when Andy Robertson was sent off against Fulham last season: dropping into the defensive line in the Reds’ early phases of build-up.

This shape will allow for easy-access triangles to progress the ball (particularly against the popular 4-4-2 out of possession structure) without requiring the full backs to drop deep.

Shown above are the likely starting positions of the Liverpool front line when they enter the final third. In this scenario, the full backs are providing the team’s width - stretching the opposition defence and allowing the wingers to operate inside. It also frees them up to rotate and interchange with the other attackers.

Rodrygo is comfortable operating across the front line - whether dropping deep to create or darting in behind. His intelligence and fluidity suit Slot’s system perfectly. Wirtz brings similar strengths in combination play, while Ekitike was among the most involved strikers in Europe last season (he was in the top 15% for touches per 90 in Europe’s top five leagues).

Add Mohamed Salah’s genius into the mix, and the Reds’ attack becomes quite terrifying.

In essence, while Rodrygo’s starting position will likely be on the left, all of Slot’s summer transfers have been inspired by a desire to build a front line that interchanges, rotates, and creates constant problems for opposition defences. Inspired perhaps, by the relationist style that Paris Saint-Germain conquered Europe with.

In Line For The Throne

The thought of Liverpool without their Egyptian King is no doubt a difficult subject for Reds’ fans, but with Salah now 33, and set to be 35 when his contract expires, it’s important that the club have some form of succession planning for when the time comes to say goodbye to one of their greats.

So, who better than Rodrygo? By 2027, he will have spent two seasons evolving at the club, learning from Salah, and will be entering the peak years of his career at 26.

Of course, it’s a burden the Brazilian will likely share with Ekitike, Wirtz and the rest of the Liverpool attack, but having a world-class winger ready and waiting to follow in Salah’s footsteps will be vital in allowing the club to continue consistently competing amongst the world’s elite.

Rodrygo is about as close to a guaranteed success as modern football transfers will offer. He is technically exceptional, young enough to evolve into a new tactical role, holds a desire to prove himself among the best in the world, and has the potential to succeed a Premier League great in the long term.