Statistics show that out of seven of Borini’s right footed strikes during the last campaign, two were tap-ins whilst the rest where accurate finishes from inside the box. While tap-ins are seen as ‘easy’ and often discredited, it shows the willingness and awareness from the player to be, as they say, in the right place at the right time – something that can be difficult to do. In contrast to Liverpool’s forwards last season who were too many a time, too deep or just not in the right place at the right when crosses were delivered. This caused goal-scoring opportunities to go begging, resulting in a poor chance conversion rate. The addition of Fabio Borini is a strong signal that Rodgers has critically studied what the Red’s lacked last term and moved speedily to try to resolve the issue. His excellent nature of sniffing out when a chance will arrive and his disciplined positioning is what Liverpool lacked at the sharp end of the field.
Fabio Borini currently boasts a goal record of 0.43 goals per game or a goal every 157 minutes – not bad for a 21-year-old. He outperforms stars from around Europe in this category, including Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Edinson Cavani at the time when they were 21, though he is roughly on par with Bayern Munich’s Mario Gomez and is only six minutes short of Fernando Torres.
Ex-Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti described Borini as being an ‘angry’ attacker who burns with the desire to always be first to the ball. Ancelotti also summoned up Borini as a ‘nuisance like Flippo Inzaghi’ continuously on the tails of opposition defenders, forcing an error in judgment and regaining possession for his side – a feature tantamount with Brendan Rodgers ‘tiki-taka’ system.
My final say is that Fabio Borini will certainly be one to watch out for next season. He should link up well with Luis Suarez as the Uruguayan likes to drop deep and dictate the play from behind the main striker. Borini has all the hallmarks to make hit a massive hit on Merseyside; he can run at defenders with the ball, his determination off the ball adds to his aggressive nature and coupled with the ability to be dangerous on either foot, he can write himself in Liverpool folklore.
His preference to remain static on the frontline paves the way for players such as Steven Gerrard, and Luis Suarez to probe in behind him to provide the assists. This allows Borini to concentrate on what he does best – his clinical finishing, to make certain that the incisive and attacking passing play that occurred behind does not go to waste as he is the focal point of the attack.
This move from Rodgers reinforces his introduction of his favoured style of play, the ‘tiki-taka’, something Liverpool fans have been dreaming about for years. The penetrating pass and move twinned with irrefutable finishing up top, which could make the Red’s a force again in the near future.
Exciting times at Anfield, feels good to Liverpool fan once again.
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