JUST minutes after Liverpool’s Europa League final defeat in Basel at the hands of Sevilla, Jamie Carragher sent the following tweet:
Deleted tweet by @Carra23 He's absolutely right. pic.twitter.com/WH2r7EWgUw
— Taintless Red (@TaintlessRed) May 18, 2016
It was sent in the heat of the moment after the Reds’ total capitulation in the second half – and the reckless, kamikaze performance of Alberto Moreno, in particular – but the sentiment of Carra’s tweet was one that resonates with a vast amount of Liverpool fans. Carra knows a thing or two about the art of defending.
Here we are, with little over a week left until the Reds kick off their 2016/17 Premier League campaign against Arsenal at the Emirates, and a new left-back has still yet to arrive. Brad Smith has joined Bournemouth for £6million, while Jon Flanagan looks likely to join Burnley on loan. Joe Gomez, meanwhile, is struggling with an achilles injury and looks a long way off a return to first-team action.
This leaves a certain Spaniard as Liverpool’s only “specialist” left-back for the start of the season. I say “specialist” in quotation marks, because, in truth, Moreno has looked far from that in his first two seasons on Merseyside.
I’m not quite as anti-Moreno as a lot of Liverpool fans – I still feel he has some potential for Klopp to work with. But right here, right now, there are simply too many flaws in his game to be considered a reliable option in this position if Liverpool are to achieve their aspirations – which, let’s be clear, are winning silverware and securing a top four spot (a title challenge would also be welcome).
Ever since Moreno arrived from Sevilla in the summer of 2014, he has never faced any proper competition for his place in the side. With Jose Enrique spending more time playing video games than actual football towards the end of his time at the club, Moreno had to shoulder the responsibility of being Liverpool’s first choice left-back on a weekly basis in a defence which was constantly being chopped and changed, hardly helping him settle in.
That superb solo goal at White Hart Lane had many fans – myself included – raving about our new signing. That’s our left-back sorted for years to come, we thought. Such conclusions proved very premature indeed.
Goal Rush #LFC 2014/2015 Moreno vs Spurs. #lfc https://t.co/McJWcGduqD
— Anfield HQ (@AnfieldHQ) December 20, 2014
Moreno actually played a handful of very good games for Klopp last season, but for every 7 or 8 out of 10 performance, there was also a 4 or a 5 – and on some occasions even lower. What is clear is that Moreno has raw pace in abundance, which often allows him to make recovery tackles where other players wouldn’t be able to.
However, there are a great deal of flaws in his game which have increasingly started to drive Liverpool fans up the wall. Whether it be his lack of positional intelligence, his tendency to dive in and make wild, lunging tackles, or his lack of quality delivery in forward areas – the best way to describe Moreno is “erratic”.
He’s not awful – and it seems Klopp feels he can work with Moreno to iron out some of those mistakes – but to enter the new season with Moreno as clear first choice yet again is not an idea that fills me with confidence. It’s a position of major concern. He might do alright against weaker sides, offering width and pace out wide when Liverpool dominate possession, but the need for a cool head – a player who first and foremost can defend properly – remains a priority.
I am fully behind the mantra that we should have faith in Klopp and trust his decision-making as he constructs a Liverpool squad in his own image – but this comes with a caveat. Backing the manager should not equate to blindly agreeing to everything he says and does without questioning him on any decision. To do so would be a dangerous route to go down.
If Klopp doesn’t dip back into the transfer market for a left-back before the summer window closes, it would seem a highly risky strategy. James Milner might be able to do a job there for a few games, but the idea of him filling in for any sustained period of time is not a prospect I feel comfortable with, especially against better sides.
Milner is a solid, reliable player whose versatility allows him to play well enough in virtually every position, but his best position is probably right-midfield. Using him as an auxiliary right-back is not such a bad idea. Left-back, however, is more of a specialist position. Is he really the kind of level we want to settle for?
Klopp clearly felt he wanted to strengthen at left-back as evidenced by the seemingly never-ending, and ultimately failed, pursuit of Ben Chilwell who recently penned a new 5-year deal at Leicester, after Liverpool refused to up their initial bid from £7million to £10million.
There remains ample time to bring in a new left-back before the transfer window shuts, but who that might be – and what kind of profile Klopp might want – remains unclear. It could be a more defensive player who won’t bomb forward, but will offer more solidity at the back. It might be a young prospect with potential who could come in to challenge, but not immediately displace Moreno.
The ideal scenario, however, would be more of an all-rounder – a left-sided version of Nathaniel Clyne, if you like. There is a reason the name Jonas Hector is repeatedly linked to Liverpool. The German looks to be the perfect fit and any deal would surely be fairly straightforward in terms of persuading the player to join.
The Echo insist Liverpool are not in for the player, but it is a rumour which simply will not go away. Another “all-rounder” – perhaps the cream of the crop in Europe at the moment – is Ricardo Rodriguez of Wolfsburg, who is not only an excellent left-back but also a specialist set-piece taker – another area which Liverpool happen to be lacking in.
Whether any targets start to emerge between now and the end of August remains to be seen – but what is clear, without doubt, is that the money is there if Klopp wants to bring a new left-back in. Liverpool’s net spend currently sits at less than £20million this summer, so there will be significant funds to invest should the manager wish to do so.
Much of the business Liverpool have done this summer is highly encouraging on the face of it. Loris Karius and Joel Matip – regarded as among the best in their respective positions in the Bundesliga – have both been brought in for less than £5million combined and look sure to improve the starting XI, once both are fully fit.
A lack of pace and goals from midfield has been identified and addressed with the arrivals of Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum, while Marko Grujic looks a hugely exciting prospect for £3.5million. Ragnar Klavan brings experience at the back and has impressed in pre-season so far after his £4.2million arrival from FC Augsburg.
Ragnar Klavan spoke to us about playing for Liverpool. For more click here https://t.co/FNSwom1zUU pic.twitter.com/vu48XVgmre
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) August 4, 2016
Some would argue that a “controlling” midfielder is needed to partner Emre Can, although it looks as if Jordan Henderson will be that player this season as he aims to put his injury troubles behind him and return to his best form. Liverpool’s squad has quality and depth in most areas – it is not far away from looking a very strong and complete group of players which can compete on all fronts this season.
Investing in a new left-back should be the priority between now and deadline day – the final piece of the jigsaw in Klopp’s first summer transfer window at the club. It surely cannot be the case that Liverpool’s list of targets consisted of Ben Chilwell alone – and failing that, Milner as the alternative. Moreno might still come good with time, but he needs serious competition for his place.
Liverpool need more quality in this position – greater reliability and more consistency. And they need it now.
“Liverpool’s net spend currently sits at less than £20million this summer, so there will be significant funds to invest should the manager wish to do so.”
Hmm. Ok…and where did you get that from? We haven’t spent much more than 20 million Net any season under these owners, regardless of the new money, and we have just paid for the stadium extension too. I appreciate that will cover itself but i don’t think any club could do that, or build a new stadium without it having some (albeit small) impact on funds available to the squad. Maybe were being fed the usual bullshit about “quality in the market” (theres loads by the way) because we simply don’t have the kind of money left we need to spend on a left back. Might change if Benteke goes…fingers crossed.
What really worries me is that every single person who supports or watches Liverpool knew that we needed a new left back this summer. Everyone. Klopp must know it, its plain as day. Im pretty sure than 95% of us would have also said we dint really need any more attack minded midfielders; DM sure, but not attacking. So what do we do? Buy two. Appreciate Mane is also a forward but you get what i mean. Im not for one second saying we haven’t bought well I rate both players pretty highly, but why no defensive mid, and why no left back? It doesn’t make sense. I cannot see a single player in our squad at this time who is a better DM than Lucas – or a better LB than Moreno (shudder). I know Can is probably pinned in for a central midfield role to be the destroyer but sometimes he is very lapse in a position that just cannot take it.
I don’t get why we haven’t bought in these two areas. It makes no sense. I wish we knew the real reasons behind it.
What worries me
perhaps you need to realise you aren’t a footie manager. you don’t see lads 6 days a week. you don’t have the plans and structures for the season mapped out in front of you.
worry all you like, it’ll simply give you an ulcer. and all over something you cant do fuck all about.
Thank you for suggesting i need to realise im not a footy manager. Thats incredibly helpful. Nice one. Perhaps you should go into full time counselling.
soz mate. was just saying – I know I don’t shit about football compared to klopp and his little crew.
So I’m more than ok with letting him do what he does 100x better than I could ever try to. And if that includes playing Moreno at left back in a system he has devised then fuck it, lets do it and see where we end up.
An option for left back was posited on TAW by moving NC to left back ( he knows the role) and Milner to RB when Moreno is not in.
Twenty fewer games this year means that any DM and LB coming in has to be forcing 2 more current players out the door . There is already a bit of a countdown on getting the current surplus of players out the door by August 31st.
Klöpp wants players that can do a few things. It just looks complicated from here!
Firstly, bringing in a new left back doesn’t push anyone out the door that’s not expected to leave.
Secondly, why crow bar a right back into leftback, a midfielder into right back or indeed a right footed midfield into leftback?
We’ve known that leftback is a problem position for months now, here’s a crazy idea, get a capable left back to play left back.
I can understand in the middle of a season where injuries, suspensions etc rack up some decisions have to be made to shore up a position in the short term but this isn’t an issue that’s all of a sudden cropped up.
It smacks of poor planning and harks back to when we sold Suarez and bought Balotelli.
I don’t see the necessity for a new left back.
Sure, if someone is there who we genuinely believe is an upgrade then go get him.
But how many left backs have we had now the last 15 or so years and how many have been garbage?
Maybe it says a lot about the standard of left backs in football.
Why not work with the one who has “loads of potential”?
I personally believe that the best we’ve seen of Moreno was in 2015/16 season. Not saying consistently he was brilliant, but his best performances were last season – so that’s already an improvement from one season to the next.
Who knows, maybe he’ll go up again in 2016/17. Might even improve that consistency.
I don’t think people should be devastated if we don’t get a new left back.
If Moreno was 21/22 I might agree with you.
He’s 24 now.
He’s had 2 seasons with us and is still making ridiculous decisions during games.
Plus we have no one to push him, he’s our only real left back option. Anyone else is being crow barred in to that position.
Moreno with a settled Left Centre back and a settled Mid in front of him…he can then work on defending rather than having to run the whole left flank on his own. It gets overlooked how much effort and time he had to put in covering all that side of the pitch. of course mistakes happen. Give him a role that’s clearly defined, and give him colleagues with defined structures we should see an improvement.
I just hope we don’t spend all season waiting, looking and even hoping for mistakes simply to say I told you so
I made a point on another thread the other day about our transfer spend and how skewed it was towards midfield and forwards
2016/17 so far
Def 4.2m
Mid/Att 59m
2015/16
Def 16m
Mid/Att 66.6m and then plus Ings
2014/15
Def 32m
Mid/Att 85m
2013/14
Def 25m
Mid/Att 13.8m
2012/13
Def 0m
Mid/Att 58m
In summary, we won’t win the title until we have a strong defence. Even Leicester knew how to do this last season with a strong run of 1-0s. We can’t defend and have not been able to for a very long time. Remember the zonal marking under Rafa that none of the players seemed to have understood? Defence wins titles.
Let’s invest in a proper defence.
Moreno is not a proper left back as he has no defensive instincts. He is a bit like Gareth Bale who used to play LB for Tottenham and Southampton. A bit like Bale but without the goal scoring. Or Pace. Or skills. Convert him to a winger and let him practise shooting. If you don’t have defensive instincts you will never be a good defender. The fact that Liverpool still have not solved this problem is very worrying. Letting Flanagan go out on loan is also a disgrace. He should be first choice LB.
Attackers/midfielders cost more than defenders.
Sakho £18mil
Lovren £20mil
Clyne £12mil
Moreno £12mil
Mignolet £10mil
Klavan £4.5mil
Karius £4.5mil
That’s just what we’ve spent in recent years.
I’d have Aly Cissokho back in a heartbeat over Moreno. Am sure he’s a top fella but he’s the dumbest player to put on a red shirt for decades.
Forget the Seville debacle – just watch Villareal’s injury time goal in the first leg. Not one, not two..but FOUR errors from him, for the one goal. 1) Charges down the left wing with seconds left to preserve a precious goalless draw away from home 2) Slow to get back 3) Challenges their striker (unsuccesfully) in midfield whislt they overload down the left in the space he’s left vacant 4) Watches the runner in the central channel as Suarez bombs on – Moreno’s just yards from the guy, but jogs, not sprints, after him, thereby allowing him the three yards of free space he needs to pass the ball into an empty net. Could’ve pervented that goal quite a few times if he had an even basic grasp of common sense defending. But he doesn’t.
If he played for my pub team that ‘effort’ for that goal would have had him bawled out. He’s got pace, but is in possession of a lazy mentality, and slow wits. You can’t coach either of those out of someone his age. Get rid. Please.
He doesn’t seem the brightest does he? Villarreal game was a good example that highlights his consistent failings/flailing about but it happens most games. Rather than excuse his erratic performances due to a frequently changing defensive line up he seems to be the one who pulls the rest of the defense out of shape with his poor positional sense.
Like many on here I was hoping for a new keeper and a LB that can defend. Perhaps it will be fitting if Klopp/Transfer Committee find Moreno’s replacement with a late lunge into the transfer market…
I think he would be happier with his friends at Sevilla.Let’s make him happy
“Using him as an auxiliary right-back is not such a bad idea. Left-back, however, is more of a specialist position”
How is left back more of specialist position than right back?
How far away from being fit is Gomez?
If we sell Benteke, it will border on criminal not to bring in Hector or Rodriguez.
My only hope is that we are holding out to drive down the price of one of these players.
It’s not looking good though.