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Alex Barilaro @Alex_Barra12

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This is a thread on why Liverpool signing Nabil Fekir is absolutely bloody brilliant

He's been Lyon's talisman since Lacazette left, but even in the Arsenal striker's last season at the club, people were convinced Lyon would be okay because they had their little wizard

Of course everyone constantly overuses the whole "magic" trope when it comes to attacking players who create, but this isn't some fancy, pretty "magic." This is Fekir summoning a lightning bolt to decimate a tree, kind of magic

First off, the guile: the fact he attempts this, let alone against PSG, is remarkable. The man is fearless and crafty in equal measure

It’s not “bravery” but a kind of arrogance: Fekir knows he can make defenders look absolutely foolish so, he tends to try and do exactly that

He’s also prone to making keepers look foolish

The thing about him that’s most impressive (and there are lots of impressive things) is his ability to glide past players, as if the ball’s magnetically attached to his feet

He plays football like a magician would; making his opposite number look one way while he goes the other. Watching him play you get entranced by how composed he is despite not being the most graceful

He used to get caught out by doing too much, attempting to be the man to carry his side through the fire by dribbling past eight players and firing one home

In Lyon’s peak this season, Fekir ran the show within a devastating quartet (sometimes trio). He was both creator and finisher, within an attack that was always moving the ball quickly

Lots of his goals come from two avenues: drifting wide to pick up the ball and charging at a fullback, or buzzing in and around the edge of the box (as below).

He’s more of a goal threat in open play than Coutinho ever was

Out wide with nowhere to go? Get Fekir one on one and he’ll shine; he creates chances off the back of that dastardly balancing trick

Honestly, how do you predict where he’ll go?

He’ll get the ball at the top of the box and the danger lies in his unpredictability; he can do one of two things:

#1: Draw players towards him, then play out to the space

Or #2: find a pocket of space and finish

Fit Fekir in with this Liverpool attack and watch the magic happen

Also, as to the idea he’s an outright attacker and therefore wouldn’t be able to play in a three man midfield, Fekir’s role at Lyon this season saw him drop deep, attack from midfield, and press like a maniac

Look where he gets the ball here (and what he does with it)