Liverpool have their swagger back, with their 1-0 win over Burnley on Sunday making it six straight wins for Jurgen Klopp’s side. Yet the weekend’s Premier League action also highlighted a summer priority, with one of their transfer targets producing yet another eye-catching performance.
Klopp had Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah back available for the first time since the Africa Cup of Nations at Turf Moor.
But surprisingly neither player was on-song against Burnley, with Mane missing a few chances and Salah not even getting any.
It took another goal from Fabinho – his fifth in his last seven matches – to get the three points against the Premier League’s bottom club.
Mane and Salah were joined by Roberto Firmino in attack as Klopp opted for his most tried and tested line-up for the match.
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But the ongoing uncertainty around Salah’s future – and the fact that Mane is also out of contract in June 2023 – means another forward is needed this summer.
The man who would fit the bill gave Liverpool’s recruitment team a timely reminder of his talent on Sunday.
Jarrod Bowen scored one and assisted the other in West Ham’s 2-2 draw at Leicester to take his tally in the Premier League onto eight goals and eight assists for the season.
Only Mohamed Salah (16 goals and nine assists) has contributed to more goals in the top flight this season than the West Ham forward, who is on fire at the moment.
Bowen has 12 goals and nine assists in 35 appearances across all competitions and his versatility and consistency in front of goal has stood out for the Hammers, who are short of strikers beyond Michail Antonio.
Against Leicester, his opportunistic run and finish from a ball over the top showed his pace and supreme confidence in front of goal – and earned him some huge praise from Jamie Carragher.
“I’m just thinking in that type of finish, it’s reminiscent of someone like Robbie Fowler, that sort of player,” he said on Sky Sports.
“That’s what it feels like with Bowen when he’s in those situations, you just expect him to score.”
Fellow pundit Micah Richards added: “Whether he plays on the left or the right, playing on the shoulder his form this season has just been mind-blowing.
“And when he actually goes through there’s still quite a lot to do with the finish. You’ve got to have the composure. It really is a wonderful goal.”
Bowen has been frequently linked with Liverpool this season and the signing of Diaz should not stop them from pursuing him this summer.
The 25-year-old only joined West Ham from Hull City for £18m in January 2020, but his rise has been remarkable.
West Ham are in a strong position, with the winger under contract until June 2025, so Liverpool would have to pay a large transfer fee.
But his form this season should give them plenty of confidence that he is worth the outlay as they try to plan for a future which may be without Salah.
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