Emre Can, Liverpool’s future

When I look at Emre Can I see a player of infinite promise, still learning his trade,  but the level to which he can rise to is still unchartered territory.

You see it his chasing back, his hooked tackles, his wonderful checked side spin pass into Sturridge in the Capital One against Southampton and his imperious performances for the European Under-21 Championship in the summer dictating play from the holding role.

The fact that his future lies in midfield, belies the fact that in the scheme of things he has relatively little experience and is still learning his trade.  It’s all too easy to be overly critical of the player, but with the demise of club legend Steven Gerrard the expectation levels have risen exponentially with the former club’s captain’s heir apparent in Henderson missing most of the first part of the season through injury and the workhorse James Milner unable to provide the subtle quality and power to drive the Liverpool midfield.

I believe a midfielder of the ilk of Kovavic alongside Can  would have seen the midfielder blossom.

Jordan Henderson espouses many qualities when his fit, most of all his running power and of the players Klopp has available to him he is the standout player to play alongside Can.

The fact that he was bestowed the captaincy makes it difficult for Klopp.  Dropping the club captain sends out the wrong message, but will a future midfield two of Can and Henderson have enough quality to dominate?

If Liverpool were to bring in a world class midfielder and Klopp decides to go with Can, A N Other and Henderson in a midfield three that potential looks formidable, but in a four one wonders whether Henderson possesses the intricacies to complement Can if Klopp goes with a conventional 4-4-2?

Admirable as James Milner is one cannot see a future with the ex-City man and Henderson in the same midfield, the same squad yes, but not the same first eleven.
Liverpool need a midfield with a more explosive core and James Milner and Lucas Leiva are too one paced to start regularly in a midfield with Can who as talented as he doesn’t possess a decisive turn of the foot.  Liverpool’s possession football is often compromised against teams counter-attacking with pace and power as with Leicester and Crystal Palace and the midfield lacks creativity.

The misguided transfer policy which saw Dele Alli  and Memphis Depay move to Spurs and United respectively could haunt the club unless they arrest such failures in future transfer windows.  The pressing game which Klopp prefers could so easily have been bolstered had Raheem Sterling still been at the club, but this is a team under Klopp which is work in progress and the spine of the team still needs major surgery.

A goalkeeper, centre-half, midfielder, winger (will Markovic return?) and arguably a striker depending on the success of Benteke and the recovery of Sturridge in the second-half of the season.

It is still early doors under Jurgen Klopp and we’ll get there eventually, but whether Liverpool can get to the top four this season is open to question if they to do not bring in any quality in January.

We’ll wait and see…