Iago Aspas is another interesting piece acquired with a view to fitting into the Liverpool puzzle, be it in a future featuring Luis Suárez or perhaps without the Uruguayan. The 25-year-old’s rise has been quite spectacular over the last two seasons, as he’s navigated from the gritty life of Segunda to mixing it with the glamour of Primera. So, what exactly are Liverpool getting for their money, and Brendan Rodgers for his system?
Well, if Aspas can transfer anything like his influence in the Celta Vigo team over to Liverpool they’ll be getting a considerable amount. Aspas had a direct involvement in 19 of Celta’s 37 goals this season, with an individual contribution of 51.4% higher than any other player in La Liga, scoring 12 and assisting another 7. Overall in his first 150 games with the club, Aspas had scored 50 goals – the majority, 34, coming in Segunda. This term, his overall contribution was what inspired his team, giving them a fighting chance at least when it came to the end of the season. If it wasn’t for his efforts, Celta would’ve been relegated by the New Year.
Aspas was, and remains, perceived by many as a striker – nothing more. If that was the case we probably wouldn’t be talking about a multi-million pound move. However, we are and it’s because of Aspas’ versatility as a player. He can of course play that most advanced role as a striker, with the licence to roam and offer the ability to play on the shoulder of the last defender. He can pick the ball up with his back to goal, or by running vertically onto it.
He’s not afraid of shooting either, and took 102 shots in the 2012/2013 season, averaging 3 shots per game – more than any other Celta player. His pace, body balance and change of direction gives him a huge advantage against defenders despite their bigger stature, with Aspas liking to wriggle and writhe away from unwanted attention.
Off the ball he’s attentive too, aware of his responsibilities in being the first point of defence. If he is dispossessed, as he has been 50 times this season, he makes a strong effort to regain possession. The 25-year-old has a sharpness, natural desire and ethic to not give up, and chase lost causes. Often he’s been seen galloping into the channels and getting in the faces of defenders, attempting to unsettle them. It had an effect too, as defenders in turn targeted this lively player, as he was fouled 2.4 times per game – as often as Cristiano Ronaldo.
Then there is that side of Aspas that’s industrious in the channels, operating as a wide player drifting inside but also going outside of full-backs. Again, his pace and ability to keep the ball close and under control allowed him to deceive opponents. He averaged 0.9 dribbles per game, while also managing to get in 1 accurate cross per game on average – more than any other player at Celta. He’d be everywhere; operating as the wide player, the striker, and then the creator.
It’s the creative side of Aspas’ game that has probably been dismissed, or at least overlooked the most. It’s deceptive how much vision and level of ability he has to operate well in the link-up play. Despite being an infrequent passer, with 32.6 per game, he made the most of his time on the ball with an average of 2 key passes per game. Again, this was considerably more than anyone else on the team and he went on to create 69 chances in La Liga this season, making up 21.5% of Celta’s total chances created – the 5th highest such contribution of any player to a La Liga team.
He linked up well with those around him when they managed to keep up with his sharpness of mind, but surely with better players Aspas’ already impressive statistics would’ve been better. The likes of Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and potentially Luis Suárez are a different calibre altogether from those at Celta.
Much has been said about the temperament of the player, and rightly so. Perhaps his actions in Spain would’ve been clamped down upon more harshly in England. Only time will tell if he tries to chance it. He did get 4 yellow cards this season, and then there was a red card for head butting Carlos Marchena. It meant missing a series of important games for his team, and that won’t be tolerated again. His lesson will have been learned, and upon returning he provided a vital assist as Celta survived a relegation battle.
His attitude and approach to the game serves as a motivation; the getting in opponents faces, taking a foul for the team and maybe feeling hard done by an offside or foul called against him. It clearly increases the blood pressure of the player, and drives him forward.
The tantrums, tenacity and trickery all make for a thrilling watch, and there will be few dull moments with Aspas around. Hopefully for Liverpool, more of them are magic than mad.
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