We ‘signed’ PSG star Kylian Mbappe for Liverpool with outstanding results as he helped win two trophies

Kylian Mbappe was linked with a transfer from Paris Saint-Germain during the summer transfer window, so we simulated a season with the Frenchman at Liverpool

Following Paris Saint-Germain’s early exit from the Champions League, Kylian Mbappe has been advised to leave this summer and Liverpool could be a possible destination.

PSG have been trying to win the Champions League for so long, but despite their huge spending habits and starting XI, they haven’t succeeded yet. A 3-0 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich saw the French club knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16 and former Liverpool striker Djibril Cissé has urged the Reds to sign Mbappe.

The French striker reportedly refused a move to Liverpool last summer, opting instead to stay at PSG in France. But with an aging squad and the French club no close to lifting the European trophy, Mbappe could be tempted to win the competition elsewhere. So if Liverpool somehow broke the bank and brought Mbappe to Anfield, how could he play? Would he be the man to win trophies, or would the money be better spent elsewhere?

To set up this simulation, we used the Football Manager 2023 editor to make Mbappe move from PSG to Liverpool in the summer 2023 transfer window, using FM23 to run the simulation. We then simulated the 2023/24 season to see what impact the striker could have.

Despite the firepower Klopp currently has, Mbappe has started every time he has been fit in the simulation. A few injuries saw the striker miss a handful of games but he still managed to make 35 appearances in his debut season with a fantastic goalscoring tally in that span.

In 31 starts and four appearances from the bench, Mbappe has registered more goals and assists than games played. He scored an incredible 32 goals and provided six assists in all competitions. He performed best in the Premier League, where the Frenchman had an Erling Haaland-like impact, scoring 23 goals in 23 games and finishing the season as the league’s second top scorer, behind the only Norwegian striker.

Mbappe was unrivaled in the Champions League, scoring nine goals in nine games and finishing the season as the competition’s top scorer. Mbappe hasn’t played in the FA Cup and has come off the bench three times in the Carabao Cup without scoring in that spell.

Had the Reds won those three games, they would have won the Premier League, but instead they finished second on 85 points, five behind first-placed Manchester City. Chelsea also improved in the simulation to finish just one point behind Liverpool, while Arsenal finished fourth.

Despite the addition of Mbappé, the Reds were only the third best goalscorer in the Premier League, despite holding the second best defensive record. They may not have won the Premier League but Mbappé was instrumental in winning two trophies for the Reds.

Mbappé’s signing meant playing time was less frequent for the other strikers, with Luis Diaz playing more apart from Salah and Mbappé. Darwin Nunez scored 12 goals, but Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo struggled, scoring seven together.

At the end of the 2023/24 season, Football Manager 2023 has compiled the best ever Liverpool XI based on performance, stats and other stats. Here’s how it looked:

In a tense first half, Liverpool scored three times against Chelsea in the Champions League final, Mbappé grabbing victory as the Reds won 3-2 to lift the trophy. The second trophy came in the Carabao Cup as Klopp’s side won 3-0 against holders Manchester United, but Erik ten Hag’s side won 2-1 in the FA Cup quarter-final to knock the Reds out of the competition.

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Mohamed Salah comments means bad news for Jurgen Klopp and FSG as latest Liverpool blow confirmed

Just hours after Liverpool’s elimination from the Champions League was confirmed, Jurgen Klopp suffered another major setback, with Stefan Bajcetic confirming the extent of his injury.

Liverpool will be without their “best player” Stefan Bajcetic for the rest of the season, the latest blow to their first four hopes.

There have not been many highlights this season for the Reds, who have been knocked out of all cup competitions and well beyond taking the title. But Bajcetic, 18, was the spearhead in a difficult season for his more experienced teammates.

Bajcetic quickly went from under-18 to starting in Jurgen Klopp’s midfield in less than 12 months. His youthful exuberance has often surfaced among his older colleagues in a group of positions Klopp is expected to freshen up this summer. But his breakthrough campaign has now come to an end after he confirmed his thigh injury will sideline him until the summer. “It’s very sad to say goodbye to this great season for me,” he wrote on social media.

“But I understand that this is part of football and it will only make me stronger physically and mentally. I also want to thank you Reds for all your support throughout the season and I assure you that I will do my best to come back stronger.” that never.”

It’s a major blow for Klopp, who has seen his once overcrowded midfield become a problem area. His newfound importance was evident for all to see last month when he helped orchestrate Liverpool’s derby win against Everton.

Stefan Bajcetic ruled out for remainder of Liverpool season (Alastair Grant/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Bajcetic played an important role in the heart of the Reds’ midfield and was chosen by Mohamed Salah as the man of the match. “He’s a great player and person, he’s always trying to work hard,” Salah said, before adding “since he started playing for us, he’s been our best player.”

Bajcetic offered a typically modest response to Salah’s verdict, but before his injury, the evidence was stacking up in his favor. “A great player. It’s a pleasure to work with him,” explains Klopp.

And it wasn’t just his own performances that caught his eye, but how he helped raise the standard of those close to him. Jordan Henderson and Fabinho showed their best performances alongside him.

He was absent for Liverpool’s last appearance, as Madrid’s exit from the Champions League was confirmed. The Reds were all but eliminated after losing to Real Madrid 5-2 at Anfield, but any fleeting hopes of another miraculous comeback were dashed at the Bernabeu.

Following the 1-0 defeat, Klopp insisted the rest of his side’s season would be defined by the three games immediately following the upcoming international break. Liverpool are six points off the top four and face Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal next month.

He said: “When we come back from the international break we have a real week of football ahead of us with three games, City, Chelsea, Arsenal, which will probably then determine what we get out of it.”

And while he would never admit it, this pivotal week would seem much more palatable with a player quickly stepping into the role of his most important.