In an interview with The Athletic, Graham, the former head of research at Liverpool, gave an insight into the changes in Liverpool's transfer strategy since Jurgen Klopp took over, with a particular emphasis on the importance of data analytics in the process of signing key players such as Salah.
Graham pointed out that Liverpool's transfer affairs have indeed undergone some changes since Klopp took over, but the changes have not stemmed from a leap in the quality of data analysis, but rather from Klopp's open-mindedness and trust in expert opinion. He mentioned that although Klopp had no experience of data analysis in soccer, he was more than willing to listen to and accept advice from the video analysis department, psychologists and the transfer department. This trust has allowed Liverpool's data analytics to be fully recognized and applied within the club.
In the case of the Salah signing, Graham emphasized the key role of data analysis. Despite Salah's unsuccessful experience at Chelsea, Liverpool analyzed his scouting reports and data from his time at Fiorentina and Roma and discovered that not only was he a goalscorer, but he also had the all-round ability to dribble, pass and create chances. This versatility made Salah stand out in Liverpool's reinforcement evaluation and eventually become one of the Reds' superstars.
Graham also mentioned that Klopp emphasizes on the diversity and adaptability of players when signing them. He is not looking for a carbon copy of "Mane 2.0", but wants each new player to bring different contributions to the team. Salah is an example of a player who not only meets Liverpool's requirements in terms of statistics, but also shows an all-round ability that surpasses Mane's in the game.
As well as Salah, Graham also mentioned the signings of players such as Matip and Andrew Robertson. These players were not seen as sure-fire winners before joining Liverpool, but data analytics showed that they had huge potential. Graham said that this is where the promise of data analytics comes in - finding players who have been overlooked by other clubs for various reasons and offering them the chance to prove themselves at Liverpool.
Graham also reviewed Liverpool's success stories in the transfer market in recent years, such as the signing and subsequent high-priced sale of Felipe Coutinho, as well as the heavy reinforcements of Van Dyke and Alisson. These success stories not only validate the correctness of Liverpool's approach to attracting reinforcements, but also bring the club great financial returns and competitive achievements.
Finally, Graham emphasized the club hierarchy's insistence on long-term vision and trust in the process. He believes that it is this persistence and trust that has enabled Liverpool to make the right decisions in the transfer market and ultimately bring about the end of a 30-year wait for a top-flight title.
