25 Apr 2016

Anfield Smackdown: 78% of Liverpool fans claim Ojo is better than 'sensational' attacker

After months of anticipation, Liverpool starlet Sheyi Ojo is finally getting regular chances in the first team, and according to Reds fans, the 18-year old winger is already better than one of the club's more established attacking players.

When asked about Jordan Ibe^ during a recent press conference, Klopp insisted:

“He [Ibe] is still a brilliant, big, big talent which is very good for English football.”

Ibe has struggled to maintain a first-team place this season, and he may end up being usurped by Ojo, who has delivered some impressive performances this season. After his recent Premier League debut against Stoke, Jurgen Klopp raved:

“Ojo is a good boy, with a way to go. But no problem. But then after two or three good moments on the right wing, doing that on the left-wing, the dribbling and the cross, it was really brilliant".

I conducted a site poll last week asking fans who is the better player, and the results are emphatic:



Ibe has pace and power, but defenders appear to have worked him out already, which is hardly surprising given his MO consists mainly of cutting-in, and delivering inaccurate crosses Ibe also lacks game intelligence, and with only 3 goals/7 assists in 54 games (Goal every 936 mins. G/A every 280 mins), his end product is not consistent enough to sustain a regular first-team place.

By comparison, Ojo has a goal/assist every 66 minutes for Liverpool so far (3 goals/assists in 7 games), so he's already ahead of Ibe, who took 29 games to score his first goal for the club. That said, outside of domestic cup competitions, I doubt Ibe or Ojo will get many first-team chances next season. Liverpool will almost certainly sign at least one winger this summer (perhaps even two), and that may have a negative impact on their chances.

Whatever happens, Ojo has a long way to go yet, and overhyping him early is a big mistake. Rodgers and Gerrard grossly overpraised Ibe from day one, and he has failed to live up to that (irresponsible) hype.

^ Hailed by Steven Gerrard as 'sensational'.

Author: Jaimie K


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