Emre Can Will Prove His Worth Eventually – All He Needs Is Time
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool managed to get rid of their demons, at least temporarily when they finally managed to beat a side in the bottom half of the table, something they have not been able to do consistently during the course of the season. The Reds remain unbeaten against the top-6 sides in the competition this season but it has been a different story when they have played teams from the bottom half of the table. Liverpool have now lost to three different teams who were placed 20th when facing the Reds. It is not a good record to hold but things seem to have changed as they managed to come back from behind against Sean Dyche’s Burnley to clinch all three points.
Roberto Firmino missed the game and Divock Origi got his chance to lead the side. He acted as a target man but his contribution had very little influence on the score-sheet. Georginio Wijnaldum came up with yet another crucial home goal to get his side level just before half-time. But the star of the game for Liverpool was midfielder Emre Can. The German international was touted as the next best thing for the Reds at the start of the season but he has failed to find any consistency in his game and he seemed to be going from bad to worse. He has also been dragging his contract negotiations with the club and there has been total confusion around his fate at Liverpool.
His Performance Against Burnley
With skipper Jordan Henderson injured, Klopp had to stick with Can for the games against Arsenal and Burnley. For the most part of the season, Emre Can was completely off beat and it looked as though Klopp had made a mistake. However, he sizzled against Arsenal when the Reds won 3-1 and he looked brilliant against Burnley as well.
After the break in the game against Burnley, with the game tied at 1-1, Liverpool looked lethargic in the final third and vulnerable at the back. It looked like they were going to drop points yet again but in stepped the 23-year old, whose smart and accurate finish from outside the box earned his side three very important points. Since that goal, Can looked like a totally different player as he helped his side see off the game without further troubles.
In the game against Burnley, Can made 60 passes – more than any other Liverpool player on the night, while also defending his heart out, winning 5 aerial duels and 2 tackles. He also made 5 clearances, which was more than any other Liverpool player and his 2 key passes were also right up there with the best. He had a mediocre start to the game but there cannot be any complaints about his work in the final half-hour of the game. It was something that Liverpool have missed this season.
Can Offers A Completely Different Dimension In Central Midfield
Jordan Henderson has done a great job in a deeper midfield role against top sides in the league this season but Can is the only player that can hold the role of a CDM in games against the smaller sides. He can bully and dominate the midfield, winning balls in the air and can act as a cover for the back-4. His attacking instincts will help Liverpool add numbers in attack and if he can learn the defensive side of the game well, he can be the player who can solve his side’s problems against the smaller teams in the league.
The Verdict
Liverpool are believed to be looking to spend big in the summer on a midfielder, as Emre Can has been linked with an exit. However, the 23-year old’s performance against Burnley showed why Klopp still trusts him. He is a unique player with some amazing attributes and if he can gather some form and consistency, he will turn out to be an important player for Liverpool in the years to come. At least for now, he deserves less criticism for his role in the side.