Stats the way for Liverpool

Comolli: Looking to use his expertise of French market to help Liverpool

Liverpool Director of football Damien Comolli has highlighted the qualities of potential target Blaise Matuidi.

"When you find yourself handling three of the biggest transfers in English football history in the last days of the market, precise figures allow you not to do that blind."
Damien Comolli Quotes of the week

The Saint Etienne midfielder has been linked with a summer move to Anfield as part of the anticipated wave of summer signings.

Comolli is set to use the aide of statistics to help him decide on which players will make the grade at Liverpool.

Figures

"In France, all the figures prove that the player who wins the most possession at the feet of his opponents is Blaise Matuidi," Comolli told the News of the World.

"That is an extraordinary strong point. When the team plays high, it means a goal chance."

Comolli believes his new policy has already paid dividends as it was used to sign Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez in January and to facilitate the sale of Fernando Torres.

In regards to Suarez, who has become an instant hit at Anfield, his due diligence appears to have been faultless.

Transfers

"When you find yourself handling three of the biggest transfers in English football history in the last days of the market, precise figures allow you not to do that blind," he added.

"You have to act quickly. For Luis, I asked scouts to make inquiries in Holland. I looked at his stats over the last three years - especially the number of matches played.

"We are going in the right direction of players who don't get injured. We are going to take more and more account of the health of a player in the future. It costs so much having players who don't play.

"With Luis, we took account of the number of decisive passes, his performances against the big teams, against the little ones, in Europe, the difference between his goals scored at home and away."