Has a player for Liverpool ever polarised fans’ opinions as much as Lucas Leiva? The Brazilian has had more ups and downs in his Premier League career than i’ve had hot dinners. Currently, Leiva is going through one of his more exceptional phases. Prior to his recent injury, Liverpool had been on a run of 6 clean sheets in their last 8 games. It is no coincidence that that run ended as Lucas was sentenced to the treatment room.
It highlights an issue that has not been addressed at the football club for a good few years now. Ever since Brendan Rodgers took over in 2012, Liverpool have not had a regular, top class defensive midfielder. Lucas has played the role brilliantly at times, but frequent injuries and loss of form has meant the Brazilian could never fulfil the role adequately.
Source: liverpoolfc.com
Every variation of Rodgers’ ideology includes a defensive midfielder, or at least, a player to drop deep between the centre backs when defending. Whether it be the dreaded 4-3-3, the ‘Diamond’ that was so effective last year, or this season’s variation of 3-4-3, a defensive midfielder has always been a must.
There are four players at the club who ‘could’ play that role, and each has been tried there without great success. We all know by now that Gerrard simply doesn’t press enough to play there effectively, Joe Allen is not and never will be a defensive midfielder and Lucas Leiva, as mentioned above, is much too fragile to become a consistent fixture in the side.
The man who most fans are heralding as our defensive midfield saviour goes by the name of Emre Can. A slick, dynamic footballer signed in the summer from Bayer Leverkusen for a paltry £9.75m. Can, like most of Liverpool’s summer acquisitions, did not have the greatest start to his Anfield career. Constantly left on the bench with but a few fleeting substitute appearances to his name by the time December rolled around.
But then, something momentous happened. Liverpool switched to a back three, and Emre was installed on the right hand side of that trio partnering Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho. What has happened since is nothing but spectacular. Clean sheets galore, Mignolet shithousing his way to the golden glove award, and the best form in the league are all accolades that Liverpool can now boast.
Lucas has been the man filling that defensive spot, and filling it well it has to be said. I still do not believe Emre Can was signed as a defensive midfielder; having seen his performances for Leverkusen last season it is obvious he is much more effective as a box to box midfielder, using his power and dribbling ability to make a difference at both ends. He could easily become Liverpool’s Yaya Toure, whose career at Barcelona mimics Emre Can’s Liverpool start in an uncanny way.
Toure was also used as a centre back for the first half of his Barcelona career, before moving into the defensive midfield role on occasion. It was, however, obvious that Toure was unhappy in these roles and knew himself that he was better utilised as the engine in midfield, breaking up play in defence before driving forward and creating attacks.
Source: liverpoolfc.com
Whilst Emre is hardly unhappy in his current position, I am sure Rodgers knows he is best used elsewhere, but is simply filling in where needed for the moment. Look at Toure now, he has shown at Manchester City that he is the most dynamic midfielder in the Premier League, I wouldn’t put it past Can to one day emulate the success Toure has had. He won’t, however, get anywhere near his full potential in a defensive position.
What needs to be done then? Basically the transfer committee needs to get themselves in gear. For far too long we have glazed over the lack of a proper out and out defensive midfielder. Remember the 2014 January transfer window? For 30 days Liverpool fans were crying out for a ‘DM’. Transfer deadline day rolled around and there was still no movement in the market from Liverpool’s transfer committee. Then along came Yehven Konoplyanka. By going for Konoplyanka, the transfer committee essentially made every single member of the Liverpool fanbase completely forget about our lack of defensive protection by trying to sign the young and exciting Ukrainian winger.
Something similar happened this summer but on a much grander scale. It had become obvious towards the end of the season that Gerrard was not fit to play every game of the upcoming season and a new midfielder was needed. Can was signed, but other than that? Nothing. Names like Balotelli, Moreno and Markovic glossed over the startling omission of a defensive midfielder from the committee’s transfer blueprint.
It was more evident than ever at the start of the season that a defensive midfielder was necessary. Lucas really highlighted the issue by effectively becoming the glue between Liverpool’s defence and midfield after forcing his way into Brendan Rodgers first eleven once again. But, as stated earlier, Lucas is just a short term fix. What Liverpool need is someone to sit in front of the defence, break up play and start attacks from deep.
I’d personally love to see a Matias Kranevitter or a Niklas Stark join the club. They are young enough to be eased into the role but also hold enough experience to slot in straight away. We all know by now that someone like Javi Martinez is out of the question due to our stringent transfer policy. Being realistic, if we can snap up another future Mascherano, I will be over the moon and Brendan Rodgers’ team will really start to flourish.
I can but dream. It is more likely that the problem will continue to be ignored, but the optimistic side of me likes to think we will bag ourselves a Makelele in the summer. Whatever happens, we simply cannot afford another start to a season like this year, the problem must be addressed.
Ben Wells
Latest posts by Ben Wells (see all)
- The dreams of a Defensive Midfielder - February 12, 2015
Niklas Stark? Good joke.
However, I think that Rodgers spoke of players who are already ready to play a key role for us.
Schneiderlin, Krychowiak or Iturraspe would be the far better options.
What’s wrong with Stark? Future German international for sure and one for the future definitely. I’d love Morgan, but he seems set for a move to Arsenal. We all know what our transfer committee is like, they buy young, Stark is a realistic option.
Brilliant article. Can will be interesting to watch over the next few seasons. What’s beautiful about this team is:
1. We have so many different goal scorers
2. So many young players with the quality and intelligence on and off the ball.
3. We are not speaking about Gerrard as dependent as we used to be on him winning matches, being the saviour, the decisive player.
4. Lucas has been brilliant as a game breaker but Can has been absolutely awesome in our quick transition from defense to attack.
5. Gerrard is our highest goal scorer so far.
6. Finally Mario arrived at the 6-yard and delivered.
7. Liverpool is doing the Sturridge dance again