Liverpool's decision to move Mohamed Salah into a more central role has been fully justified, writes Adam Bate of Skysports.com.
Going into this season, if there was one thing at Liverpool that Jurgen Klopp would have been advised not to alter, it would have been the role of Salah.
The Egyptian scored 42 goals in his debut season, winning numerous individual awards.
But Klopp has tweaked Salah's position, switching him to a more central role and placing greater demands on Roberto Firmino to accommodate Xherdan Shaqiri.
Klopp masterstroke
The change was much debated in the early part of the season. Now, with all three players impressing, it looks to have been the masterstroke that could propel Liverpool to the title.
"He had to adapt a bit to a slightly different position," explained Klopp over Christmas. "It is not that much different but it is different from time to time."
The decision has not only resulted in Salah going into 2019 as the joint-top scorer in the Premier League but the other aspects of his game are flourishing too.
For example, no player in the Premier League has won possession of the ball in the final third of the pitch as many times as Salah this season.
Outstanding statistics
Also, no player has had more touches of the ball in the opposition box this season and Salah has made that count by bringing others into play as well as finding the net himself.
Salah ranks second in the Premier League this season for chances created from open play and is also second for big chances created.
According to Opta's expected goals model, Salah's expected assists for the season stands at 5.59, better than anyone else in the competition.
Salah's PL statistics
| 2018/19 | Total | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Open-play chances created | 38 | 2 |
| Big chances created | 12 | 2 |
| Expected assists | 5.59 | 1 |
| Touches in the box | 161 | 1 |
| Dribbles completed | 40 | 5 |
| Possession won final third | 20 | 1 |
Creator and finisher combined
It is extraordinary to think that he could yet finish the campaign as the Premier League's top scorer and the player who has created the most chances for others, too.
The statistics also underline an upturn in Salah's physical performance. He made more high-intensity sprints than any other Liverpool player during the month of December and was also clocked at a top speed of 34.63km/h, faster than anyone else too.
The country's outstanding player of 2018 begins 2019 in great shape not only to continue his astonishing achievements so far but to build on them.
And huge credit to his manager for daring to change something that was far from broken in the ambitious belief that he could coax something extra and add even more to this team. It is working.
