Liverpool Striker Sold for £6.5m Emerges as Premier League’s Most Efficient Goal Scorer
Liverpool’s decision to sell Taiwo Awoniyi for £6.5 million was initially seen as a shrewd move, but the Nigerian striker has since emerged as the Premier League’s most clinical scorer. Despite spending six years on Liverpool’s books without making a first-team appearance and enduring seven loan spells abroad due to a UK work permit issue, Awoniyi’s impressive form since joining Nottingham Forest has forced a rethink.
In 2021, Liverpool cut ties with Awoniyi and he joined Union Berlin on a permanent deal. This decision proved profitable for Liverpool, as they banked a £6.1 million profit, which was further boosted by an additional £1.5 million when he moved to Nottingham Forest in 2022. However, Awoniyi’s recent performances have raised questions about whether Liverpool made a mistake in letting him go.
Last Saturday, Awoniyi scored the opening goal in Forest’s 2-0 victory over West Ham, taking his tally to 16 league goals for the club and 17 goals in all competitions. This impressive scoring record has not gone unnoticed, and in analysis for Sky Sports, it was revealed that Awoniyi has the best conversion rate among all Premier League strikers since his return to England.
Awoniyi has been scoring with an impressive 28.6 percent of his shots in the English top flight, outperforming renowned strikers such as Erling Haaland, Hee-chan Hwang, Callum Wilson, and Harry Kane over the past two seasons. Diogo Jota is joint-sixth on the list alongside Alexander Isak, making Awoniyi the highest-scoring Liverpool player in terms of conversion rate. Ivan Toney is also not far behind with a conversion rate of 21.4 percent.
This statistic becomes even more impressive when considering that Forest finished 16th last season and are currently in the same position this term. It raises the question of how Awoniyi would fare at a higher-ranked Premier League club, and whether he would have been able to make an impact had he stayed at Liverpool.
Interestingly, Awoniyi was granted a UK work permit in the summer he left for Union Berlin, briefly joining pre-season training under Jurgen Klopp. However, with Jota, Salah, Mane, and Firmino cemented as key players, and Minamino and Origi not seeking an exit, Awoniyi’s pathway to the first team was blocked.
Former Leeds manager Jesse Marsch, offering analysis on Sky Sports, pointed out the unique challenge that Awoniyi faces as a striker for Nottingham Forest. He noted that Awoniyi only gets around two chances per match and must be sharp and ready to convert those opportunities. Marsch likened it to a goalkeeper playing for Manchester City, where they do not face constant shots on goal but must be prepared for crucial moments.
Awoniyi’s ability to consistently be in the right positions and convert his limited chances showcases his sharpness and readiness as a striker. This efficiency is what sets him apart from other top strikers in the league.
As Awoniyi continues to impress at Nottingham Forest, speculation grows about his future and whether he will attract interest from higher-ranked clubs. If his form continues, it may not be long before we see him competing at the highest level of English football once again.