Joao Palhinha: Liverpool and Tottenham target in focus
Each day we pick out a player and cut through the noise to give analytical, objective insight. Thursday's focus is on Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.
- Age: 27
- Position: Defensive midfield
- Club: Fulham
- Country: Portugal
When it comes to tackling, nobody does it better - or more often - than Joao Palhinha.
The 27-year-old leads the Premier League charts for both tackles attempted with 80 - a full third more than second-ranked Tyler Adams' 60 - and successful tackles with 45 - far clear of another Leeds man, Pascal Struijk - highlighting that the Fulham star is both unafraid to make decisive interventions and adept at doing so.
And if we compare him to the other defensive midfield options on offer at Liverpool, one of his potential summer suitors, it is clear to see that his one-on-one defending prowess would bring an improvement among the ranks.
His 59% success rate at stopping dribbles outshines the 44% return of Fabinho, whose struggles to replicate his best form this season have pushed Jurgen Klopp into looking elsewhere.
That said, out of all the Premier League players averaging at least 30 on-field minutes per game this term, the former Sporting man ranks 75th overall for pass completion, posting a figure of 83.2% that falls far behind leader Manuel Akanji's 94.6%.
Several defensive midfield characters outdo Joao Palhinha in this key element of play.
Rodri fares best of all with 90.6%, but starkly, the Portugal international ranks lower than Liverpool duo Fabinho - whose 88.1% puts him 23rd overall - and Thiago Alcantara - on 86.2%, 36th.
While the Cottagers star certainly proves formidable in tackling situations, his passing offering may need work before the summer if it is to reach the levels Liverpool are used to.
Another player appearing above him on the pass success rate list is Tottenham's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The Dane's natural position is further up the field than the Fulham man's, though Spurs do deploy him in a defensive midfield role, and he finds a teammate 88.7% of the time - better than all but 19 players in the top flight.
Discipline is also worth flagging when comparing Joao Palhinha to a man who could well become his teammate next season.
A return of 21 fouls resulting in 16 yellow cards suggests the Fulham midfielder is yet to strike a balance between throwing himself into the action and staying on the right side of the referee.
Hojbjerg's single caution from 14 fouls - less than a foul per game - see him as a better master of the art.