Liverpool’s full-back area has been the subject of major speculation and debate in a season which has seen Brendan Rodgers’ Reds score more Premier League goals in 26 matches than has been managed from 38 games in 3 out of the 5 previous seasons (2011-12, 2010-11 & 2009-10).
However, despite averaging 2.54 goals per game this season, only bettered by Manchester City, who average 2.72 goals per game, it has been Liverpool’s defence that has prevented an improved league position of fourth.
If you had asked any Liverpool supporter before the season kicked off in August, “What would you consider to be a successful 13-14 season?” every single sane Kopite would have replied with “Champions League football for the 2014-15 season”.
Accelerate seven months on and Liverpool currently find themselves sitting fourth in the table, four points off leaders Chelsea with just 11 games remaining; a remarkable achievement in itself for an already thin squad, which has had to cope with major injuries.
Two of those long-term casualties have been first choice full-backs Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique; the former has missed nine games through injury, while the latter hasn’t started a game for the reds since the 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace on October 5th, 2013.
Brendan Rodgers confirmed in his pre-match press conference before Sunday’s winning encounter against Swansea that although Glen Johnson is set to return to the squad, which he did, that Jose Enrique isn’t even close to a return and that he’s been sent to America to seek specialist support for his knee injury.
Injuries aside, the majority of fans would agree that the full-back area – which is so critical to Brendan Rodgers’ ideology and practices – needs strengthening in the summer transfer window, especially if Champions League qualification is secured.
Johnson, aged 29, is reportedly earning £130,000 a week, putting him only behind Captain Steven Gerrard and the Uruguayan magician Luis Suarez in terms of wage packet. Quite clearly, Glen Johnson is not Liverpool’s third best player and despite being an asset offensively in seasons gone by, on the basis of this season pre-injury; he looks like his best years are behind him.
Jose Enrique, despite earning less than half of Johnson’s aforementioned £130,000 a week wages at 28 years old and with a history of knee problems, should also look to be replaced – or at least demoted to a squad rotation player.
But it’s not that simple just to be able to replace two senior squad players without heavily overpaying. Quality, world-class fullbacks, believe it or not, don’t grow on trees and the position is often one of the most problematic to replace. Aly Cissokho’s loan deal from Valencia has proved the point that the right calibre of full-backs are hard to come by.
However, there are a few potential candidates who currently ply their trade across the continent who would be suitable to match Liverpool Football Club’s ambition of becoming one of Europe’s elite once more.
Key areas for a full-back are:
- Assists (A)
- Games played (GP)
- Pass accuracy (PA)
- Tackles per game (TPG)
- Dribbles per game (DPG)
- Interceptions per game (IPG)
- Aerial Duels won per game (ADW)
So, we’ll start with potential candidates for Glen Johnson’s right-back position. (All stats accurate as of 26th February 2014)
| Name | Age | Current Club | GP | A | PA | TPG | DPG | IPG | ADW | Price |
| Danilo | 22 | FC Porto | 27 | 2 | 80.3% | 2.3 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 1.3 | £15m |
| Sagna | 31 | Arsenal | 30 | 3 | 84.8% | 1.7 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 3.9 | £0m |
| Montoya | 22 | Barcelona | 14 | 3 | 87.5% | 3.2 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 2.4 | £0m |
| De Sciglio | 21 | AC Milan | 13 | 0 | 81.7% | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.9 | £9m |
| Johnson | 29 | Liverpool | 18 | 1 | 82.7% | 2.4 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | £7m |
The stats for Johnson look average. Johnson neither is the worst in any of the 8 footballing categories or the best. An area which Glen Johnson has been criticised in the past is that he does not win enough headers, especially from deep crosses to the back-post. Therefore, the only two improvements from those mentioned in that specific area are Sagna and Montoya – both who will be free agents in the summer if things remain the same.
De Sciglio should be avoided according to the performance stats this season, as he fails to top any other candidates in any specific area, however he does prop the rest up in 50% of the categories.
The clear winner is Martin Montoya with the current Barcelona player excelling in 2 footballing categories, while his only red stat is games played which would surely be altered if he made the summer switch to Anfield on a free transfer; although Liverpool will face stiff competition for a player who already possesses superb ability, with room for serious development at just 22 years of age.
Now, onto left-back and Jose Enrique’s potential rivals for next season*. (All data is correct as of 21st Feb 2014)
(*Notable exclusion is Alex Sandro of Porto, who could be an alternative, but a lack of data meant it would be an unfair comparison)
| Name | Age | Current Club | GP | A | PA | TPG | DPG | IPG | ADW | Price |
| Rodriguez | 21 | Wolfsburg | 22 | 4 | 80.7% | 3.1 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 2.5 | £15m |
| Cole | 33 | Chelsea | 16 | 2 | 89.2% | 2.5 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.5 | £0m |
| Moreno | 21 | Sevilla | 24 | 0 | 78.3% | 2.1 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 1.2 | £12m |
| Shaw | 19 | Southampton | 24 | 1 | 77.7% | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.8 | £25m |
| Enrique | 28 | Liverpool | 8 | 2 | 80.4% | 1.4 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | £6m |
As with the right-back position there seems to be one clear player to avoid like the plague and one to throw a kitchen sink full of money at in order to beat off competitors to secure a much needed signature.
Surprisingly, the stats show that Southampton left-back Luke Shaw, despite performing admirably for The Saints this season, just doesn’t match up to his left-back compatriots; which is even more surprising considering Manchester United and Chelsea are set to battle it out for his signing, with his reported transfer fee standing at £25m.
For £10m less, the aforementioned sides could get the most improved and most impressive left-back of the season thus far – Ricardo Rodriguez. Topping his peers in 4/7 footballing categories, Ricardo Rodriguez is surely the full-back Liverpool should be looking at to replace Enrique in the summer; as our Spaniard is topped by Rodriguez in every single category other than age.
Of course, you could argue that The Premier League is a much more difficult an intense league than The Bundesliga; or that stats only tell part of the story. While both statements are probably true, it is evident that Liverpool need to strengthen the full-back positions and the obvious additions are Martin Montoya and Ricardo Rodriguez.
