Alberto Moreno’s Liverpool career has been difficult, to say the least.
When Moreno signed for the Reds, there was a huge sense of optimism around Anfield. A young, exciting, attacking left-back who won the Europa League and who could hopefully solve our longstanding problem in that position.
It’s safe to say that it’s not turned out that way and we’re no closer to solving that problem. Over the two years since we signed Moreno, he hasn’t really convinced when playing under Brendan Rodgers or Jürgen Klopp.
It’s looking less and less likely we’re buying a left-back this summer, and with James Milner set to be an emergency full-back, this is his last chance to prove himself to the Liverpool supporters.
A typical opinion on Moreno falls into two categories, it’s either he’s got talent and he’ll get better with time, or he’s completely brain-dead and is a massive liability.
Recently, I’m more inclined towards the latter.
Now Moreno isn’t a bad player and I want to make it clear I don’t hate or dislike him or any Liverpool player in any way. I do think he has some good qualities, especially in an attacking sense. When he bombs down the left flank on the overlap and creates chances with his left foot, he’s a massive asset. In the offensive aspect of being a full back, he is, in my opinion, one of the best in the league.
Problem is, he’s a defender. Defending comes first, no arguments. I don’t care how many chances you create if you concede just as many trying to play left wing for 90 minutes.
I understand Klopp likes to play with his full-backs high up the pitch, but you have to be intelligent with when you go forward. Going up the pitch and forgetting to track back, leaving the left side of defence completely exposed, is inexcusable.
Even when he does seem to be in position, he makes some of the most shocking decisions. The 5-4 win against Norwich where he fouled Naismith twice in the box and gifted a penalty is a prime example. As a defender, he is just far too incompetent in a back line which, let’s face it, has been a shambles for five years.
A competent left-back doesn’t charge forward on the 90th minute away to Villarreal and cost us the game. A competent left-back doesn’t forget to track his runner in the Capital One Cup final, leading to a goal. A competent left-back doesn’t desert the defensive line to head a ball to the opposition and concede, 20 seconds into the second half of a major European final. I keep thinking it will get better but it just gets worse.
It may sound like I’m being a bit harsh on Moreno but it’s the truth. Not all of those situations are entirely his fault but he certainly plays a major part.
All that being said, Moreno is still a Liverpool player, if his time was up he would have been out the door by now. Klopp clearly still sees something in him, and as I trust Klopp and he knows more about football than I ever will, I trust his decision. However, many fans have already washed their hands of him.
The same was said about the likes of Dejan Lovren and Jordan Henderson when they first joined and they’ve managed to change quite a few minds, so it’s not out of the question. But if Moreno wants to turn around his Liverpool career, he has to improve, and he has to do it fast.
