Javier Manquillo, in case you have forgotten, is Liverpool’s Spanish right back who is on a 2-year loan from Atletico Madrid. But should Liverpool keep him or let him go back to the Spanish capital?
Everything was fine when Manquillo stepped off the plane from Madrid and right onto the pitch at Anfield. A right back that looked good and confident, who enjoyed pushing forward and overlapping. Paired with his compatriot Alberto Moreno on the left side, the pair looked to be dangerous moving down the flanks. I remember writing after the first six or so games that Liverpool may have found their full backs of the future. Both young, energetic and capable of handling the physicality of the English Premier League.
Manquillo himself had gained invaluable European experience being apart of the Atletico squad which made it all the way to the Champions League final in Lisbon. Even though he only played in two European games that season, he was still around a team that winning and winning well.
However after the Reds stumbled out of the gate with their new look back four, Rodgers changed the system to suit his new personnel. A back three was implemented, players like Emre Can, Mamadou Sakho and Marin Skrtel found themselves as the last line of defense with Moreno supporting as a left wing back. Whereas the left side of the pitch has been covered, the right wing back position has been a bit of a revolving door of right footed players. Jordan Henderson, Jordon Ibe, Lazar Markovic, Raheem Sterling and Manquillo himself have all had their chances in that position on the team with the first four seemingly preferred over the young Spaniard.
An interesting note to also consider is that right back Glen Johnson has also fallen out of favour with playing on the right hand side of a back five. That maybe more of Johnson’s age and his expiring contract, but why has Manquillo been frozen out of the team? It may not be because of his defensive qualities but more of his attacking deficiencies. Each player that Rodgers prefers to start over Manquillo is an attacking player. Ibe, Markovic and Sterling can all attack and frighten defenses when they overlap. Each can bring the ball forward to transition from defending to attacking in seconds. With what we have seen of Manquillo, moving forward isn’t always his best attribute. He can get caught too far forward leaving his area wide open and at times he can get in the way of other players in advanced positions.
So are Manquillo’s days numbered at the club? Not necessarily. Many things can change between now and next season. New systems may be implemented, squad members will come and go and maybe a new manager will be at the helm. He still has the remaining games left to try and stamp out a spot on the team sheet. His weaknesses at the moment may not be his weaknesses in the future. Manquillo is highly rated in the Spanish system playing in every national team age group from U16 and up, so to give up on his now may be be a little short sighted. Liverpool still have the rights to him for next season, where the Reds may change back to a back four which should see Manquillo getting more chances to show what he has to offer.
What it really boils down to is that Manquillo may just have been a casualty of the back three and that is unfortunate for him, but being the professional that he is, he has not complained. We have not heard of any scuffles in training or bad mouthing tactics to try and get himself some more minutes. He has supported the team through everything and that’s the kind of player that fans can get behind and root for.
Either way whatever happens with Manquillo, he will find his place to play top flight football somewhere. Whether it is with Liverpool for at least another year, or longer, or Atletico Madrid, where he is under contract until 2018.
