Flanagan
21-year-old Jon Flanagan has been one of the most impressive performers in the current Liverpool team, and his improvement this season typifies the progress that has been made at the club under Brendan Rodgers. Flanagan burst onto the scene under Kenny Dalglish as a no-nonsense fullback due to the injuries of the more established Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly, and he had since then somehow slipped under the radar last season.
However, this season Flanagan has been outstanding for the Reds and put in performances that have belied his tender age. A right back throughout his career, Flanagan has earned much of recent plaudits by filling in for an injured Jose Enrique on the left. That he is keeping an experiences defender like Aly Cissokho out of the starting eleven is a testament to the ability and application shown by the England youth international.
In 14 league appearances, Flanagan has made 52 clearances, 23 interceptions and 2 blocks, i.e. an average of 5.5 defensive actions per appearance. His tackling too has been decent with him winning 46% of the 84 attempted tackles, but his short stature and weak frame has made him a vulnerable target in the air, with him winning 45% of 38 headed duels.
Going forward, Flanagan has scored one goal, an absolute corker in the 5-0 win at Tottenham, while he has created 8 chances for his teammates. The only negative for the youngster is that his crossing is not yet up to the level expected of a Premier League fullback, but it is not something that can’t be improved with practice. With 81% accuracy, his passing too is neat and he has shown increasing comfort on the ball which is a key part of Liverpool’s game.