Thread by @Anddrooll

Why Nathan Collins may actually be better than Guehi for Slot and Liverpool

With Crystal Palace driving a hard bargain, and LFC still in need for a center back, could Nathan Collins be a better option?

Let’s see why that may be 🧵

#LFC #Liverpool #Collins #Transfer #Brentford

Nathan Collins — 2024/25 with Brentford

Personal information

•Name: Nathan Michael Collins

•Age in Season: Turned 24 on 30 April 2025

•Position: Centre-back (primarily right-side of the pairing)

•Height: ~193 cm (6’4”)

•Transfer Info: Signed from Wolverhampton in July 2023 for a club-record fee (reported ~£23 million)

Availability & Durability

•Premier League: Played every single minute of all 38 league matches—only outfield player in the division to do so (alongside the rested Virgil van Dijk)

•Total Minutes: 3,420 in league; across all comps roughly 42 games and 3,637 minutes

Defensive Masterclass

Premier League 24/25 raw stats:

•Tackles: 41
•Interceptions: 34
•Blocks: 3
•Clearances: 245
•Fouls: 28; Yellow cards: 5; Red cards: 0

More blocks than any other PL player by Game 34, top-6 in duels won, 10th in possession won, and 2nd in aerial duels won

Offensive Contribution & Build-Up

•Goals & Assists: 2 goals, 3 assists in the league

•xG: 2.38 (0.07 per 90) — roughly 47th percentile

•Goals: 2, Goal involvement (G+A): 5, 0.13 per 90 (47th percentile)

•Shots: 14 overall (0.39 per 90); Shot accuracy ~43%, about 35th percentile

•Assists: 3 (0.08 per 90), xA total ~5.72 (0.16 per 90) — ~60th percentile

Passing & progression

•~50 ADI passes per game, 86% completion; 75th percentile

•Completed passes: ~42 per 90, accuracy ~85.9% (both top 1–2 in PL CBs)

•Progressive passes: ~3.1 per 90 (top-quartile)

•Carries: ~0.8 per 90; Dribbles: ~0.15 per 90

Athletic & Physical Data (UEFA Nations League)

From his Irish national team data in UEFA’s Nations League during the same season:

•Matches: 6 (540′ total)

•Top speed: 32.36 km/h

•Distance covered per match: 9.34 km (total 58.92 km)

•Passing accuracy: 81.67%, Balls recovered: ~7.34 per match, Blocks: 9 (overall)

How Collins stacks up to Konaté & Van Dijk

Availability & reliability

•Collins’ 38/38 league starts in 24/25 outstrip Konaté (injury-managed and rotated) and put him alongside Van Dijk for sheer availability.

That matters to a high-line team that values stable pairings.

Box defending & clearing volume

•Collins’ 220 clearances underline classic penalty-box command for a mid-block/low-block side that spends more time defending its area than Liverpool typically do.

Van Dijk’s 24/25 was more about control than volume; Konaté’s volume sits between the two depending on opponent and rotation.

Aerial game

•Brentford’s scheme leans on aerial dominance; Collins’ reputation across 24/25 media/club analysis highlights aerial duels as a strength—mirroring Liverpool’s profile with Van Dijk (elite) and Konaté (very good)

Ball progression

•Collins is not a pure “quarterback CB,” but FBref’s 24/25 scouting card shows useful progressive passing and long distribution relative to PL CBs—enough to function on the right of a build-up pair.

Van Dijk remains the superior diagonal switcher; Konaté’s strength is carrying into midfield space and 1v1 defending in transition.

Speed & recovery

•Public tracking has Van Dijk still hitting ~34 km/h peak in 24/25; Collins’ UEFA top speed sits just over 32 km/h; Konaté’s recent public numbers (UEFA) are just under 30 km/h, though club/Opta pieces in-season often show him in the low-to-mid-33s on specific matchdays.

Treat cross-competition comparisons with care owing to different providers

Why Collins would fit Arne Slot’s Liverpool (now & long-term)

Tactical fit today

Structure

Slot’s Liverpool won the title after shifting to a 4-2-3-1 with a double pivot that screens central lanes, reducing the amount of “front-foot defending in oceans of space” CBs must do every phase.

Collins flourished in a Brentford side comfortable in deeper and mid blocks, which translates well as a right-sided CB who defends the box, dominates set-plays, and handles direct play.

Build-up needs

Slot has emphasised a more controlled, positionally-disciplined circulation versus Klopp’s chaos—angle-creating passes through the pivot, then quick progression wide.

Collins’ long distribution and steady progression are “good enough” to complement Van Dijk’s elite switches, especially when the full-back is pushed high.

Press & transitions

Slot’s pressing is more structured, funnelling into zones; when pressure is beaten, the CB pair need to win first/second balls and reset. Collins’ 24/25 shows exactly that profile—high clearances, blocks, duel reliability.

Long-term squad architecture

•Minutes bankable: Liverpool have managed Konaté’s load at times; a durable, prime-age CB (Collins turned 24 during 24/25) lowers variance across a 55-game season.

•Set-play edge: Slot’s Liverpool leaned on structure; adding another aerially dominant CB reinforces defensive set-plays and adds an attacking target (Collins scored 2 in 24/25).

•Succession planning: Van Dijk still performed at a title-winning level in 24/25, but planning a high-minutes right CB who can partner VVD now and anchor later fits Liverpool’s medium-term model under Slot.

Final Verdict

Collins was ever-present in 24/25, showing elite aerial power, reliability, and leadership at 24. Less progressive than Konaté, but far more durable.

A Premier League-proven, durable, aerially dominant CB — a smart fit under Slot both short- and long-term.