Do Liverpool need a dedicated defensive midfielder? Stan Collymore seems to think so, and he's highlighted one possible solution to this ongoing issue, which won't cost the Reds a penny.
In a recent column for Boyle Sports, Collymore claimed that Liverpool 'need to address their lack of clean sheets this season', and dispense with the 433 system to accommodate a 'designated holding player' like 'N'Golo Kante', with a remit to 'protect the central defenders'.
Lucas aside, Liverpool do not have any senior DMs in the squad (Henderson is a square peg in a round hole), and according to Collymore:
"It [the DM] should be James Milner. He is defensively solid, a winner, and still has the legs to be that specialist DM".
Milner has experience of playing as a more attack-minded central midfielder, but he's only played as a dedicated DM several times in his career. That said, Milner's skill-set is perfectly suited to the DM role, and when it comes to positioning and tactical awareness, he's (arguably) likely to be more comfortable in that position.
Milner would undoubtedly jump at the chance to play a more central role. Indeed, after signing for Liverpool in the summer of 2015, he told The Telegraph:
"I want to play football and play more centrally if I can, and that’s where the manager [Rodgers] sees me playing".
Possible lineup with Milner at DM (using the existing squad):
-------------- Mignolet
Clyne ----- Lovren - Matip ------ Moreno
--------------- Milner
------- Hendo -------- Wijnaldum/Lallana
----- Mane ------------ Coutinho
------------- Firmino
A dedicated DM is probably not needed in every game but it's good to have a credible option. Is Milner a viable solution?
* Jan 2017: Described by Alan Shearer as 'brilliant'. €17m-rated (CIES Football Observatory)
In a recent column for Boyle Sports, Collymore claimed that Liverpool 'need to address their lack of clean sheets this season', and dispense with the 433 system to accommodate a 'designated holding player' like 'N'Golo Kante', with a remit to 'protect the central defenders'.
Lucas aside, Liverpool do not have any senior DMs in the squad (Henderson is a square peg in a round hole), and according to Collymore:
"It [the DM] should be James Milner. He is defensively solid, a winner, and still has the legs to be that specialist DM".
Milner has experience of playing as a more attack-minded central midfielder, but he's only played as a dedicated DM several times in his career. That said, Milner's skill-set is perfectly suited to the DM role, and when it comes to positioning and tactical awareness, he's (arguably) likely to be more comfortable in that position.
Milner would undoubtedly jump at the chance to play a more central role. Indeed, after signing for Liverpool in the summer of 2015, he told The Telegraph:
"I want to play football and play more centrally if I can, and that’s where the manager [Rodgers] sees me playing".
Possible lineup with Milner at DM (using the existing squad):
-------------- Mignolet
Clyne ----- Lovren - Matip ------ Moreno
--------------- Milner
------- Hendo -------- Wijnaldum/Lallana
----- Mane ------------ Coutinho
------------- Firmino
A dedicated DM is probably not needed in every game but it's good to have a credible option. Is Milner a viable solution?
* Jan 2017: Described by Alan Shearer as 'brilliant'. €17m-rated (CIES Football Observatory)
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