2 Feb 2017

Klopp Warns: 'Exciting' £25m Liverpool star is a 'good player' but he must 'improve a lot'

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has urged one of his summer signings to make improvements in the final third.

During his pre-match press conference today, Klopp admitted that he'd previously told Giorgino Wijnaldum to 'improve his finishing', and fired off another warning about the Dutchman's form in front of goal:

"He [Wijnaldum] is a good player [but] he needs to be around the interesting situations. We have a fluid style [and] if there’s nobody in the box it makes no sense. Gini can improve on this. He is young enough to improve a lot.”

Wijnaldum has contributed just 3 goals in 28 games this season, so there's clearly room for improvement, but Klopp has to take some of the blame here.

Klopp has basically converted an attacking midfielder (who grabbed 16 goals/assists out wide last season) into a midfield water carrier, who plays deeper than Emre Can (!) Yes, Wijnaldum should get into the box more, but it's hard to do that when he's constantly battling/tackling in the centre of the pitch, and to be honest, after 45 minutes of doing that, he's probably too knackered to make endless runs into the box.

If Klopp wants Wijnaldum to score more goals, then play him higher up the pitch! Liverpool's midfield balance is all wrong, especially when Emre Can plays. With a Hendo, Can Wijnaldum axis, it should be (IMO):

* Can at DM/Holding (Protecting the back four)

* Hendo as the link between midfield and attack (Playing higher than Can)

* Wijnaldum as the attacking midfielder (Playing highest of the three).

I hate the fact that Hendo plays deeper than Can, who barely scores/creates goals. Henderson has the creativity and game intelligence to create chances, make key passes, and score/create goals, so the obvious thing to do is play him as...a defensive/holding midfielder?! It makes no sense, damn it!

It's like playing Gerrard as a holding midfielder in the prime of his career, i.e. a total waste of time.

^ Wijnaldum: Hailed by Klopp for his 'exciting' potential. Cost Liverpool £25m.


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