Richarlison vs Kulusevski: Who starts for Spurs?

Spurs have just splashed £60 million on Richarlison to add to their attack, but will he actually get into their starting eleven?

We know Heung-min Son and Harry Kane are pretty much guaranteed starters for Conte, but one player Richy could get chances ahead of is Dejan Kulusevski, who joined Spurs from Juventus in January. 

This article breaks down both players’ stats from their Premier League campaigns in 2021-22, to see who offers more to the Lilywhites. 

 

Shooting

Richarlison:
Played: 30
Shots per game: 2.4
Goals: 10 
Goals per game: 0.33
Minutes per goal: 253’

Kulusevski: 
Played: 18
Shots per game: 1.4
Goals: 5
Goals per game: 0.28
Minutes per goal: 253’ 

Looking at the stats, Richarlison appears to have the edge over Kulusevski in terms of goal scoring. He finished the 2021-22 season as Everton’s top scorer with 10 goals in 30 matches, averaging 0.33 goals per match, compared to Kulusevski’s 0.28. 

However, surprisingly, given Kulusevski played 12 matches less than Richarlison and came off the bench in several of his Premier League appearances, he actually had the same minutes per goal as the Brazil international, with them both scoring every 253’ minutes… which is quite an amazing coincidence. 

However, where Richarlison does stand out is in the importance of his goals. Brazil’s number 9 scored five goals in Everton’s last 10 games, which of course were absolutely vital to them avoiding relegation. 

Richarlison can also score more varied goals, netting five with his right foot, two with his weaker left foot and three with his head. He can score from both inside and out the box, too. 

Kulusevski on the other hand scored all five of his goals with his stronger left foot, often cutting in from his favoured right-wing position. 

They all count… but the fact that Richarlison can head the ball and play up front gives Conte a better goalscoring option with him. 

 

Passing

Richarlison:
Passes per game: 17.5
Pass success rate: 63.4%
Key passes per game: 1
Crosses per game: 0.2
Assists: 5
Assists per game: 0.17

Kulusevski
Passes per game: 25.3
Pass success rate: 86.4%
Key passes per game: 1.4
Crosses per game: 0.4
Assists: 8
Assists per game: 0.44

But as we know, being a winger isn’t just about goals and Kulusevski is the one who holds the edge in creating chances for his teammates. In just 18 appearances he made eight assists compared to Richy’s five in 30 games, which must be one of the main reasons Antonio Conte is so keen on the Swede.  He also makes more key passes per match too, averaging 1.2 compared to Richarlison’s one.

One of the downsides to the Brazilian’s game is also his pass accuracy. It is well below Kulusevski’s, with just 63.4%, whereas Kulusevski very rarely gives the ball away with 86.4%. So, Tottenham fans may get frustrated with Richarlison’s tendency for a wayward ball. 

Wingers certainly used to be known for crossing, but the modern game seems to see less of that, as they now tend to try to cut inside and shoot rather than get to the byline. Nevertheless, the ability to provide an effective cross is still a valued resource in football. Kulusevski averages double the amount of crosses per game that Richarlison does, with 0.4 compared to 0.2 respectively. 

What these stats show is that both players offer different options to Conte. If Spurs need a goal when perhaps Son and Kane are struggling to convert, then Richy offers more of a threat due to his ability to score from out wide and down the middle. As for Kulusevski, if Son and Kane are firing on all cylinders, he may be a preferred option for Conte to help supply those key passes and assists to create opportunities for Spurs’ main men. 

Defence: 

Richarlison:
Tackles: 40
Tackles per game: 1.3
Interceptions: 12
Fouls: 36
Yellow cards: 8
Clean sheets: 7

Kulusevski:
Tackles: 19
Tackles per game: 1.1
Interceptions: 13
Fouls: 20
Yellow cards: 3
Clean sheets: 7

One part of the game that is often overlooked in attacking players is their defensive abilities, but after all, defending starts from the front. With high pressing being so in fashion at the moment in the Premier League, this may well have been in Conte’s mind when coming in for both of these players. 

As for Richarlison, although he may have a reputation in the media for being lazy and often rolling around on the floor, he actually puts in a lot of work off the ball to help his team defend. He is also a strong tackler, making 40 across the season with a 1.3 per game average. This is superior to Kulusevski, who averages 1.1. Both of these stats are above the average for wingers. 

In terms of a defensive reading of the game though, Kulusevski has the edge with 13 interceptions in all appearances compared to Richarlison’s 12, which is significantly worse considering the former Everton man has played 12 more matches than the Swede. 

Richarlison also has more of a tendency to get booked, with eight yellow cards throughout the season, making 36 fouls over the 21-22 campaign. Kulusevski has also made plenty of fouls though too, making 20 in his 18 matches. 

Conte though might not mind if they both bring some of the ‘dark arts’ to Tottenham. Time wasting, tactical fouling and winding up the opposition are all part of the Italian manager’s playbook after all.

So, who gets into Spurs' starting 11 will depend on the opposition and the nature of their tactics ahead of a game. If Conte needs someone to nick a goal, Richarlison is more likely to score from any position and also offers more goalscoring variation too. If he instead wants someone with more vision who can break through the lines of a well-organised opposition defence with a clever through ball or cross, then Kulusevski may be opted for.

But let’s not forget, if Son or Kane are unavailable for any reason there is a good chance they could end up playing together, with Richarlison being a good option to play up front. 
It will be very interesting to see how the Brazilian settles at his new club and if he will be a regular under Conte.