11 Jun 2015

Anfield Exit? £10m Liverpool 'warrior' confirms he can 'imagine a transfer to anywhere' except...Manchester United

Last week, Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel slammed the club's 'unacceptable' new contract offer, and basically threatened to quit Anfield when his contract expires next year. The Slovakian confirmed that there is transfer 'interest from other clubs', but in a new interview, he specifically rules out a move to Liverpool's biggest rivals.

When asked this week about the possibility of signing for Manchester United, Skrtel emphatically dismissed the idea out of hand:

"I can imagine transfer to anywhere, but [Manchester] United? Never".

To my knowledge, Skrtel has never been linked with Manchester United, but give it a couple of days, and I'm sure that odious rag 'Metro' will fabricate a 'story' about Louis Van Gaal's alleged interest in the Slovakian.

Like last season, £10m-rated Skrtel - hailed this season as a 'warrior' by Rodgers - is Liverpool's most consistent defender, which is impressive considering his defensive partners are constantly changing.

Additionally, with Gerrard gone, Skrtel is now the club's most experienced first-team regular, and it's arguably unwise to allow more of the club's senior players to leave this summer.

Yes, he makes the odd mistake, but so does every defender. The majority of the time, though, Skrtel is solid as a rock, and he is far more deserving of a new contract than, say, Raheem Sterling.

Skrtel is regularly maligned by some fans, but to illustrate his effectiveness, here is a comparison with Chelsea captain John Terry, who helped Chelsea achieve the best defensive record in the Prem:

* Games played: MS: 33 | JT: 38

* Minutes: MS: 2970 | JT: 3420

* Passing Accuracy: MS: 90% | JT: 89.6%

* Duels Won: MS: 166 | JT:159

* Aerial Duels Won: MS: 112 | JT: 99


* Recoveries: MS: 145 | JT: 129

* Tackles Won: MS: 89.5% | JT: 86%

* Clearances: MS: 312 | JT: 217

* Blocks: MS: 40 | JT: 30

* Interceptions: MS: 55 | JT: 32

Stats: OPTA

As you can see, despite playing fewer league games that Terry, Skrtel's defensive stats are superior in a number of different areas:

- More clearances, recoveries, interceptions, and blocks (CRIBs) per game (Skrtel: CRIB every 5.3 minutes; Terry : CRIB every 8.3 mins)

- Better overall success rate with tackles.

- Won more duels overall, despite playing seven fewer games.

Granted, Chelsea's midfielders do a great job of shielding the back four, but Skrtel's stats are still impressive, and prove that he is a very effective defender for Liverpool FC.

Author: Jaimie K


25 comments:

  1. The Quote was in reference to the reporter who had a Man U cap on, skytrl took off his cap and joked saying I would never move to United.

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  2. Losing Skrtel would be a disaster right now, our best and most consistent defender. BR would probably bring in Titus Bramble to replace him.

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  3. I wouldn't mind if Martin moved on at this point. It's not like he's going to suddenly improve now. Sell him to Inter, give Everton some shiny beads and shells, and while they are hypnotised, run off with John Stones.


    Anyone else watching the Copa America?

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  4. How can the metro be an 'odious' rag...?


    ...it's the only one feeding us desperately addicted fans with any bulk news....we gettin' our kicks ain't we......;-)

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  5. Anyhow back to the point in question - so jason bourne, sorry; terminator, sorry; skrtl....yep he should stay...he's very good.....


    ...and he wouldn't go to MU so he's very good....with a cherry on top......

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  6. Sorry, I missed that... I was focused on the shiny beads and shells

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  7. If we sell Skrtel, wouldn't mind Virgil Van Dijk as replacement. Vigil is a towering player, with composer if front of goal (Which JK loves as a barometer stat for every player).
    Takes a mean free kick for a defender and can play DM aswell (could be our cheap Matic...because we won't get Kondogbia).

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  8. Skrtel is the man and Rodgers would be a fool to let him go! But then Rodgers is a fool so it wouldn't surprise me either way. Virgil Van Dijk is a boss player mate I have Scottish family and the Celtic fans sing his praises..Granted he doesn't play in a league with much to compare him to but I am a huge fan and whoever sign Van Dijk I assure anyone who doubts him he will be something special, watch and see come the end of the season people will be talking about him big time if he is signed to a prem team. In my opinion I would love him at LFC mate

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  9. Skrtel is the man and Rodgers would be a silly to let him go! But then Rodgers wouldn't surprise me either way. Virgil Van Dijk is a boss player mate I have Scottish family and the Celtic fans sing his praises..Granted he doesn't play in a league with much to compare him to but I am a huge fan and whoever sign Van Dijk I assure anyone who doubts him he will be something special, watch and see come the end of the season people will be talking about him big time if he is signed to a prem team. In my opinion I would love him at LFC mate

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  10. Think Vigil will help tame the Benteke type players that have a cake walk when playing against our defence.


    If we received a good fee for Skrtel (as his value is deceasing with age). Plus his game intelligence isn't the best, so as he gets older his errors are likely to increase (he'll end up pulling more a shirts... giving 2 pens a game)


    If Inter won't take a fee and Borini for Kovacic, make a bee line for Firminho.

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  11. We've had a formal end of season review, BR is not getting sacked yet Pascoe and Marsh are, and we've signed two players.

    Throughout this news no comms from LFC. But hey, City bid for Sterling and its breaking news on SSN @ 10.30pm.

    Sorry but am I the cynic here or do LFC leak stuff when it suits them?

    What about the priciple of doing stuff behind closed doors?

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  12. Laughing out loud!

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  13. BR looking relaxed after Pascoe and Marsh let go by LFC..

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  14. Clearly not at home ,sorting out transfer contracts !

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  15. Ah Skrtel....more wonderful management skills by our immaculate manager

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  16. I get the feeling that he really cares about all his players.

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  17. The defence already looks disastrous and we are selling one of our better defenders and Kolo gets a new contract just to sit on the bench yay

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  18. Skrtel is allegedly involved in a part exchange for Kovacic- obviously Rodgers still has faith in Lovren and Sakho

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  19. Just let him go! Should have upgraded on him 3 years ago, a lot of his errors are pinned to his defensive partners because of his pure defensive game... moving on

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  20. I always thought Titus Bramble's relative success in terms of his career had a lot to do with his amazing name. I mean, if Martin Skrtel was called COLOSSUS ELITE or something he'd probably have played for Real Madrid by now.

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  21. And his assistants. We should be proud.

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  22. I'd rather lose my job than her

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  23. I suspect that since he is now 30 Liverpool are doing the same as most clubs and only offering a short term extention where as he probably wants something like 4 years.

    If this is the case, not saying it is, then I agree with the club

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  24. Surprised he's only valued at 10mil when his stats have him as one of the best defenders in the league last season.


    There are a lot of players that I wouldn't care if they moved on but Skrtel is part of a select group we need to do everything to keep a hold of. I'm sure he's not asking for an outrageous contract and the last place we want to be introducing new player is at CB

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