How Good Will Geoffrey Kondogbia Be For Liverpool?
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are currently the top goal scorers in the top flight of English football but they have the worst defensive record among the top-6 sides currently in the points table. Lack of discipline at the back has cost Liverpool a number of points this season and Klopp will know that he will have to take care of this before the start of the next season. This has seen him scout for some solid defensive minded players and one link that refuses to go away is French star Geoffrey Kondogbia.
Without a doubt, first choice center back Dejan Lovren has been shaky at times and Klopp might be looking for a partner for him, but the way Liverpool have conceded goals this season, the problem is far from their backline. Yes, the defenders have made some mistakes but Liverpool have a very weak midfield in front of the back-4, which in honesty, is a bigger problem. Lucas Leiva is the only defensive minded midfielder in the current squad at Anfield while Emre Can is still getting used to it. Jordan Henderson has been exceptional in this makeshift role but he is not really a CDM who can win Liverpool the league title. Here is where the Inter Milan man could be a god sent gift for Liverpool.
The Reds indeed need a stronger center back partnership but even the best will struggle if they are time and again put under severe pressure. Arsenal are the typical example for this. Despite having quality defenders, they have struggled defensively because of a weak central midfield. What Liverpool need is a player who would be ready to do the dirty work and can snuff attacks out quickly.
Kondogbia is a beast of a midfielder who is known for his concentration and tackling abilities deep in the midfield. He loves to use his strength to shield the ball and is not a guy who lunges into tackles. He loves to dispossess players on the run and it is something that comes naturally to him. He will put in the hard yards to win the ball back and is no mug with the ball at his feet either.
The £16.15m French International is an excellent dribbler who can wriggle past opponents with ease while his passing will also help Liverpool set up attacks from the back. Most of the games Liverpool have lost this season have been against teams in the bottom half of the table and one of the major reasons for it has been the lack of their ability to shut games down. Kondogbia is tailor made for it. He can sit back, just in front of the defence and provide solidity at the back while his ability to create chances from that role will also improve Liverpool’s chances to win such games.
At just 24, Kondogbia should not take too long to adjust to the challenges of the English league and if Liverpool are able to beat the big guns to his signature, they may just be able to take the next step towards their title challenge.