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Football News: Liverpool Left Back Strength Review

Liverpool Left Back Strength Review
Image from: standard.co.uk

Liverpool left back strength review

First team:
Alberto Moreno
Jose Enrique
Brad Smith

Youngsters:
Sam Hart
Joe Maguire
David Roberts
George Johnston

Cover:
Joe Gomez
Nathaniel Clyne
Jon Flanagan
Emre Can
Kevin Stewart
James Milner

Left back, after goalkeeper, is without doubt the weakest part of the Liverpool team. It shows how bad things are that Jurgen Klopp was forced to put James Milner at left back in the League Cup final defeat against Manchester City. None of the youngsters have been outstanding at all, which has left Klopp's options limited.

 

It is clear to all who have watched Liverpool this season that Alberto Moreno is not the answer at left back. His wanton disregard for defending, which usually leads to him being marooned upfield while the opposition are busy slicing through us down the left, is making the defence look even more shakey than it actually is.

Is there a nice term for his defending? The only thing that comes to mind for me is 'moronic'. There seems no semblance of intelligent thought inside his head at all on the pitch. When it looks like Liverpool have got the ball, without ever waiting to be sure, Moreno charges upfield like his life depends on being as far up the field as possible.

 

Not once does he look to find himself space, it is just a headlong rush up the pitch until he hits the line of the opposition defence, whereupon he stops. That is what he does, and many times Liverpool simply have not even gained control of the ball before he is off, leaving a huge gaping hole down the left side of the defence.

Of course, there is the regular site of him charging back full pelt to launch himself into a completely senseless challenge. Sadly he got away with it the first few times, winning the ball without giving away a free kick and it seemed to give him the impression that is how he should be playing. So now he just sells himself in senseless challenges, sometimes repeatedly, giving away needless free kicks or penalties out of sheer stupidity.

 

His contribution in the attacking third is not much better, if at all. It seems that his main contribution is to get in the way of any attempt to build up down the left with quick passing and movement, as he offers so little movement, even though his pace should lead him to being a real presence in the final third. Instead he usually offers little other than a poor ball across the box. It is up to him to work on his game and show more or be sold.

It says a lot about Enrique that he manages to be worse as an option than Moreno, never have I seen a player that simply deserves nothing more than Jose Enrique. Being polite about him and his attitude on the pitch is just not possible so I will not go into it, just suffice to say I will be glad when he leaves in the summer.

 

Brad Smith has looked impressive going forward, he has real pace, blisteringly quick at times, with an excellent cross, usually, he can be a real threat. So far he has just to be so impressive defensively and will need real work on that aspect of his game if he is to be the long term answer to the club's left back woes. Certainly deserves a chance to show what he can do with a run of games.

That leaves the cover players, Gomez, Clyne, Flanagan, Can, Stewart and Milner, none of which are ideal for the role. Can, in particular, does not look comfortable in a defensive role and his mentality is not defensive, so I would rule him out except in an emergency. Stewart needs to develop in his defensive midfield slot, so I would also not want to see him used at full back and Milner is just an emergency option.

Gomez has shown he can provide cover there, but it is clearly not a position for him in the long term. The same applies to Clyne and the Scouse Cafu, both can play there, and have had good games there, but neither are entirely suited to the left back position. What is clear is that, even if Brad Smith does become the long term answer, a left back is desperately needed for now. It is one of the weakest links in the squad and has to be the second priority after goalkeeper.

Written by Tris Burke March 03 2016 09:49:53