Much has been made of Liverpool’s activity in this year’s January transfer market. The Reds were in desperate need of more attacking options, and the January window enabled manager Brendan Rodgers to focus on bringing in some fresh faces at the top end of the pitch. With the acquisition of Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea adding to the squad, later on in the window, Liverpool secured the services of 20-year-old Brazilian Phillipe Coutinho from Inter Milan. But away from transfers, the month of January also saw a return from injury for Fabio Borini. After signing in the summer, the Italian sustained an injury whilst away with Italy’s U21s in October, which had seen him sidelined for roughly 3 months. Ironically enough, this was the third successive season where Borini picked up an injury in the month of October. This time it was a fracture in Borini’s foot that would keep him out of action for the foreseeable future.
However, the forward returned slightly ahead of schedule, after it became apparent that Borini was back in training the same week Daniel Sturridge signed for the club. Borini made his comeback at Old Trafford, coming on as a substitute in the 2-1 loss to Manchester United on January 13th. So, now he’s back, what can the Italian bring to the side?
Since joining the club, Borini has scored 1 goal – that being in Liverpool’s second game of the season, against FC Gomel at Anfield in August. After a good start adapting to Premier League football, being fielded in a number of different positions, several lacklustre team performances saw Borini’s Anfield career slow down somewhat. But the Bentivoglio born striker has recently stressed his desire to kick on from here, stating “My Liverpool career is actually starting now, I think. I’d only played five league games and six or seven games in the Europa League (before the injury), which is not a lot. It really starts now with great intensity week in, week out to get playing again.”
After working together at Chelsea, manager Carlo Ancelotti likens Borini to Italian goalscoring legend Filippo Inzaghi. The ex-Chelsea and Milan boss is a long-term admirer of the Liverpool striker, and there were even some suggestions that Ancelotti’s PSG side would rival the Reds for Borini’s signature in the summer. In Borini, Ancelotti sees “a potential champion” who “has a nose for goal” and “a speed which few possess”.
Borini is exactly the type of player that Brendan Rodgers is keen on bringing in to the club; as well as being young and having a good goalscoring record, Borini is also able to play in any of the front 3 positions. The Italian has started a lot of his games from the left hand side, but in several Europa League games, as well as the Reds’ Premier League tie away to Sunderland, Borini has been deployed as a central striker. His ability to get goals and his clever movement and pace means that this is arguably his most natural position.
Borini has scored goals wherever he has been. He was prolific at youth level for Chelsea, and when unable to gain a spot in their first team, he joined Brendan Rodgers’ Swansea City side on-loan, scoring 6 goals in 12 games and playing a vital part in their eventual promotion to the Premier League. Borini then secured a permanent move back to Italy with Roma, where he managed 10 goals in 26 appearances. At just 21, Borini has plenty of football ahead of him and, having worked with the striker before, manager Brendan Rodgers will be desperate to bring out the best in him.
The forward’s addition to the squad will be a real boost for Liverpool. His return, as well as the additions of Sturridge and Coutinho, means that boss Brendan Rodgers now has plenty of options to choose from at the top end of the field. In a season where Liverpool have been heavily reliant on striker Luis Suarez for goals, Rodgers has regularly stated his intent to bring in some players who can help ease the burden off of the Uruguayan’s shoulders. There had been some question marks over whether Rodgers would be keen on having all three of Sturridge, Suarez and Borini in the side, but the Liverpool boss put any doubts to bed after he revealed that playing all three was always his intention – [quote]“Yes, there’s no question about that [whether there’d be occasions where Suarez, Sturridge and Borini would all start games]. That’s the type of profile that we’re trying to bring in. Players that are flexible, and players that have intelligence.”[/quote]
Although Borini is capable of playing in several positions, I’d like to see him competing with Daniel Sturridge for a central role. His movement, work rate and eye for goal make him perfect for this position, and it’s clear that Borini feels a lot more comfortable playing in that role. In my opinion, the Italian would be best deployed there, with players such as Suarez and Coutinho cutting in from the flanks to support him. Although, at the moment, with Sturridge’s flying start to life at Anfield, it’s proving hard for Borini to establish himself in the starting eleven. I also feel that Rodgers will target another striker in the summer to provide the current striking trio with even more competition, leaving Borini with an even tougher task to break in to the team. However, his flexibility on the pitch as well as his terrific work-rate can only help his cause.
Fabio Borini will always offer a side a goal threat. His return from injury is a real boost for Liverpool, and he may yet prove to be a crucial player for the Reds between now and the end of the season. At 21, the striker has plenty of time on his hands, and the perfect manager to bring him success in a red shirt.
