Liverpool trio among Europe’s top five for most appearances…
Only three Premier League players make Europe’s top 10 for most appearances for club and country this season. All three play in Liverpool’s attack.
Here are the 10 players from the five big European leagues to have played the highest number of games this season, which started on July 1, because Transfermarkt.
10) Sofiane Diop (Monaco & France) – 50 appearances
Club appearances: 42
International appearances: 8
Total minutes: 3067
The Monaco midfielder’s international appearances have come for France Under-21s as a starter in all eight of their European Under-21 Championship qualifiers this season, in which they won seven and conceded only once. Diop, who looked to be on his way out of Monaco before Niko Kovac intervened, started on the bench for the 5-0 win over Northern Ireland Under-21s on Monday but came off it to score once and offer another assist.
9) Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan & Argentina) – 50 appearances
Club appearances: 39
International appearances: 11
Total minutes: 3356
Martinez had a £100million price tag on his head 18 months ago but the Argentina striker could go for just over half that figure in the summer. A haul of 24 goals at a rate of almost one in two games is said to have caught Arsenal’s eye.
England strikers among Europe’s top ten goalscorers of 2022…
8) Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid & Argentina) – 50 appearances
Club appearances: 37
International appearances: 13
Total minutes: 3488
Maybe the midfielder’s exertions caught up with him somewhat since Atletico’s big summer signing found himself out of favour last month after a bright start, with Diego Simeone benching him for the visit of Manchester United. But De Paul appears to have won back his place at club level and he has started every qualifier for Argentina for which he has been available.
7) Juan Cuadrado (Juventus & Colombia) – 50 appearances
Club appearances: 38
International appearances: 12
Total minutes: 3817
The former Chelsea winger seems to have convinced Max Allegri after flitting in and out of the Juve XI at the start of the season. If Cuadrado needs a rest, he’ll get one next winter instead of going to the World Cup with Colombia.
6) Aurelien Tchouameni (Monaco & France) – 50 appearances
Club appearances: 42
International appearances: 8
Total minutes: 3944
The Monaco midfielder is certainly making the most of his shop window season, with Tchouameni reportedly having his pick of Real Madrid or PSG when he gets his big move in the summer. The 22-year-old has featured in every France fixture following his international debut in September before he spent the friendly win over South Africa on Tuesday on the bench.
5) Sadio Mane (Liverpool & Senegal) – 50 appearances
Club appearances: 36
International appearances: 14
Total minutes: 3982
It’s been a productive half century for Mane, with the Senegal skipper winning AFCON and qualifying for the World Cup in addition to winning the Carabao Cup with Liverpool.
4) Mohamed Salah (Liverpool & Egypt) – 50 appearances
Club appearances: 36
International appearances: 14
Total minutes: 4232
Salah suffered at Mane’s expense at international level and the Egyptian has scored only twice in 14 internationals, with five of his last six games for Egypt going to extra-time. But for Liverpool, Salah is still tearing it up, bagging 28 goals in 36 appearances. Not enough this year, though, to get him in Europe’s top ten scorers of 2022 or to the World Cup.
3) Jesus Tecatito Corona (Sevilla & Mexico) – 51 appearances
Club appearances: 31 (18 for Porto, 13 for Sevilla)
International appearances: 20
Total minutes: 2921
The versatile wide man has featured in every game for Sevilla since Julen Lopetegui was reunited with the player he managed at Porto just half a season before the 29-year-old was due to become a free agent. Corona has offered two goals and an assist in nine La Liga appearances.
2) Jonathan David (Lille & Canada) – 53 appearances
Club appearances: 39
International appearances: 14
Total minutes: 4129
It’s a good time for the 22-year-old to demonstrate his robustness and reliability with clubs across Europe hovering around the Canada forward. With the Premier League and La Liga ‘a big priority’ for David, the 17-goal striker will inevitably be linked with Arsenal.
1) Luis Diaz (Liverpool & Colombia) – 55 appearances
Club appearances: 40 (28 for Porto)
International appearances: 15
Total minutes: 4193
The Liverpool new boy doesn’t appear to be running on fumes yet if his performances for the Reds are any indication. While Diaz has made the most appearances, from Europe’s top five leagues, team-mate Salah, Napoli right-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Atletico keeper Jan Oblak have amassed more club and international minutes.
