Alberto Moreno is one of those Liverpool players, some fans love to hate. He’s sort of like marmite, you either love him or hate him. There seems to be no in between. While his attacking abilities are there for everyone to see, as a left back his defensive abilities are, to put it mildly, at times shocking. It looks like he switches off at times, or forgets that he is a defender and that the space he has just run from needs defending and this is seen by some fans as him being a liability. At times last season he was vilified by a certain section of the Liverpool fan base, who called into question his temperament, his skill and his ability to play in a defence that was leaking goals left, right and centre.
I’ve always said that Moreno had the potential be a great player if he didn’t have to worry about defending. If he only had to worry about attacking fans would see the best from him. But he is a defender and sadly for him and for us fans he has to defend. As critical as I have been of him and his defending he’s another player who has improved since Jürgen Klopp took over at Liverpool. He’s not as afraid now to make a tackle when defending something he seemed to be under Brendan Rodgers. His attacking has gotten so much better lately as has his defending. It’s amazing what a manager who has a bit of confidence in you can do.
For me and I’ve said it since he signed for Liverpool that he’s going to be a real star down Liverpool’s left and, if his performances continue to improve, and I’m sure they will, it can only be a plus for Liverpool and for Moreno as well. He has already shown he has an eye for a goal (who could forget his fourty yard dash last season against Spurs and the goal that followed it) and this is something Liverpool have lacked over the last few years from their defenders, that ability to breal quickly and score goals. Liverpool have that now on both sides of the defence. And with the addition of attacking players like Roberto Firmino and Phillipe Coutinho, Danny Ings, Jordan Ibe Moreno now has targets to aim for who aren’t static. Their movement allows Moreno move into space and he has shown so far under Jürgen Klopp his ability to not only pick a pass but as I said already score a goal. (ahem Spurs last season)
Moreno has grown into an important part of the Liverpool team so far this season. After initially losing his place at the start of the season to Joe Gomez, he’s come back in to the team a better player. And I think this is clearly down to the influence of Jürgen Klopp. He has improved so many of the Liverpool players since he came in and I for one am delighted that Moreno is one of those. As I already said I’m a massive Alberto Moreno fan and I’m so happy that he’s finally living up to his potential.
But and there’s always a but, there’s his defending and as fans saw all too often at times last season it was shocking. But I think his poor defending was to do with the nervousness that Brendan Rodgers brought to the Liverpool team. Rodgers indecision with players and his lack of a plan B in my opinion put the fear of God into players and they seemed reluctant to make a mistake for fear of losing their place and having someone else fill in for them. But now thankfully under Jürgen Klopp there is a new found confidence around the team and this confidence had bred new life into Alberto Moreno.
With Moreno only been twenty three, he can go on to establish himself as Liverpool’s first choice left back for the next ten years and if he keeps progressing under the watchful eye of Jürgen Klopp I have no doubt he can establish himself as the first choice Spanish left back for the for many years to come. And if this happens I can see him becoming a fan favourite like John Arne Riise and Steve Finnan did in the past for Liverpool.
Aaron Cawley
Latest posts by Aaron Cawley (see all)
- Liverpool’s Origi - December 21, 2015
- Liverpool’s Alberto Moreno - December 11, 2015
- We Are Liverpool Tra La La La - November 27, 2015
I too am a LFC for life supporter and a reader not a writer. I find these articles very interesting to read and it gives me new insight into. The game, players and their abilities. . Keep on writing my friend it is appreciated
I too am a LFC for life supporter and a reader not a writer. I find these articles very interesting to read and it gives me new insight into the game, players and their abilities. . Keep on writing my friend it is appreciated