Salah pips Messi to spot in latest stat-themed European XI

In the latest in our series of stat-themed XIs we reveal a lineup of the players to have attempted the most shots by playing position across Europe's top five leagues this season.

In the interest of fairness - having done the same for our key pass XI - we're excluding set pieces, so in this instance that's shots direct from free-kicks or penalties, which rules out one huge name...

Goalkeeper: Rafal Gikiewicz (Union Berlin) - 2

Two shots from a keeper is pretty good going and earns the Union Berlin stopper the spot in goal. For context that's the same number of efforts as starting wing-back Christopher Trimmel has managed for the Bundesliga outfit and equal also to the tally of PSG star Marco Verratti!

Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - 28

Making the cut despite seeing eight efforts from direct free-kicks excluded, Alexander-Arnold's importance to Liverpool in the final third from right back is obvious. So much so that only the Reds' famous front three have mustered more attempts in total than the youngster (36) this season.

Centre-back: Yery Mina (Everton) - 28

Staying on Merseyside, Mina can match Alexander-Arnold's total here and like the full-back places fourth among his teammates for attempts at goal. All but one of the Colombian's 28 shots have come from set piece situations, with a tally of 27 in that respect a Premier League high this season.

Centre-back: Martin Hinteregger (Frankfurt) - 34

Forming a colossal centre-back partnership with Mina, simply put Hinteregger has been the most dominant and deadly centre-back in the opposition box in Europe's top five leagues. The Austrian ranks third in terms of shots for Frankfurt this season, while only one teammate has found the net more times (six). Amazingly, the centre-back has had more shots this season than any Valencia player has attempted!

Left-back: Robin Gosens (Atalanta) - 38

While the German has developed year-on-year since making the move from the Eredivisie to Serie A, the current campaign has been a revelatory one for Gosens. Fielded from left wing-back in an ultra-attacking and entertaining Atalanta side, the 25-year-old has mustered 38 shots in total, heralding an impressive seven league goals.

Right wing: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 92

With just six of Salah's overall shot tally of 98 coming from either direct free-kicks or the penalty spot, he makes the cut over Lionel Messi who has relied on such situations for 26 of his 105 attempts at goal by comparison. Only one player has mustered more shots than the Egyptian in the Premier League this season, and we'll get to him shortly...

Central midfield: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 70

Like Salah, De Bruyne sees his overall shot haul cut by six due to his efforts from set pieces but still makes this lineup quite comfortably. 45 of the Belgian's total attempts this season have come from outside the box, which would largely explain a relatively modest eight-goal haul thus far.

Central midfield: Alejandro Gomez (Atalanta) - 69

Without a single shot from a dead ball situation this season, all 69 of Gomez's efforts count here, but making said efforts count on the pitch has been another matter for the Argentine. Indeed, a return of just six goals leaves the Atalanta playmaker with a meagre conversion rate of just 8.7 per cent.

Left wing: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) - 112

Perhaps the least surprising inclusion in any lineup ever, Ronaldo and shots simply go hand-in-hand. It's extremely rare that the Portuguese does not come out on top in terms of total shots in Europe's top five leagues, and when it has happened - such as 2017/18 - injuries have played a big part, missing 11 matches that season. Nevertheless, if you exclude the 18 attempts the 35-year-old has had from free-kicks and penalties, his closest challenger isn't too far behind.

Striker: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern) - 103

An absolute machine in front of goal, if it were possible there's a case to be made that at 31, Robert Lewandowski has actually improved this season. He's certainly picking up scoring positions as frequently, if not more so than ever, and the Bayern hitman has taken his chances with typically unerring composure, scoring 25 Bundesliga goals from just 23 appearances.

Striker: Raul Jimenez (Wolves) - 96

The surprise leader in the Premier League shot count as things stand, Jimenez sees his total reduced by the three penalties he has taken and duly scored this season. The Mexican makes this lineup regardless, and given Wolves' unspectacular shot tally - averaging out at 12.8 per game - the striker's importance to Nuno's side is highlighted by the fact that he has accounted for over a quarter of their total efforts at goal (26.6 per cent).