Liverpool produced a disappointing performance on Tuesday evening, never hitting top gear away to Atletico Madrid.
It resulted in a frustrating 1-0 defeat in the Champions League last 16 first leg, leaving the Reds with plenty of work to do in the return match at Anfield next month.
It means Jurgen Klopp’s side have lost seven of their last 11 European away matches, which isn’t a statistic to write home about, in a period littered with positive ones.
On an evening full of below-par performances, Gini Wijnaldum was one of Liverpool’s quietest players.
The Dutchman didn’t do much wrong in the middle of the park, but he was guilty of lacking guile, often keeping things too safe.
Fabinho and Jordan Henderson were also culpable in that respect, but it was Wijnaldum who stood out as the least effective.
One staggering statistic has emerged regarding the 29-year-old, with WhoScored noting that he hasn’t registered an assist for the Reds since April 2018.
It is a stat that is scarcely believable, considering Wijnaldum is currently playing in midfield for officially the world’s leading club side.
It is worth stressing that creating goals is far from his primary job in this team, however, with the former Newcastle United man given the task of providing solidity and industry in midfield.
Unlike for the Netherlands, who he has scored for seven times this season, we feel as if Wijnaldum is not expected to stand out, with that job handed to the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
Without his work ethic, tactical intelligence and incredible ball retention – he has a 90.5 pass completion rate in the Premier League this season.
There is nothing wrong with wanting a little more from such a talented footballer, however, even though we feel Klopp would no doubt argue that he is doing his job to perfection.
When Wijnaldum has one of his quiet, ineffective days at the office, as was the case against Atletico, we think he is a deeply frustrating player to watch.
It will be no disaster if his output continues to be curiously low, but equally, it may reach a stage where Liverpool have stronger options in his position, should the more creative Naby Keita go up a gear.
Comments.
Loading comments…