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Liverpool transfer news
1) Jordon Ibe is the REAL DEAL…
Celebrating a swanky new five-year-contract, Ibe completed TEN successful take-ons last night, winning us the penalty, and looking like the most dangerous player on the pitch by a country mile. This is a teenager we recalled from a Championship loan spell, but he feels like a brand new £20m January signing. He supplies us with endless width, running and pace – and what’s more – you can visibly see he’s nowhere near reaching his potential yet. So, so exciting.
2) Emre Can’s stint as a centre-back must be nearing its end…
We kept a clean-sheet, but Can was comfortably the poorest of our back-three, and regularly was out of position. When he moved into central midfield though, the young German was superb – and with Lovren again doing well from the bench – it’s probably about time the Croat came back into the side, and Can replaced Joe Allen in the centre.
3) Simon Mignolet is a confidence-keeper, and now he has it in bundles…
Mignolet is literally a different goalkeeper to the blunder-happy, nerve-riddled 27-year-old between our sticks pre-Christmas. Whatever Brendan Rodgers has said to him, it’s worked absolute wonders. The Belgian kept out a Demba Ba drive, and was solid throughout. At this rate – we’ll only be signing a backup option in the summer, rather than a replacement.
4) Mario Balotelli HAS finally arrived as a Liverpool player…
Forgetting the penalty incident (as hopefully everyone will soon), Balotelli’s 35-minute cameo was easily his most impressive since his £16m summer transfer. While he’s contributed recently versus Spurs and Crystal Palace, he hasn’t shone – but when he came on against Besiktas, he was simply outstanding. He ran with the ball, passed sensibly, pressed, and almost looked like the ‘world-class’ Italian maverick we’ve yet to see at Anfield. Long may it continue. Keep up the good work, Mario.
5) Daniel Sturridge must be careful to not let individual aspirations take priority over team targets…
The striker, on too many occasions, tried to do everything himself against the Turks. He’s got the ability to do it – but when his teammates are better placed, he needs to get his head up and play the pass, instead of trying the outrageous. He’s still a little rusty though, and he’ll improve his decision making as he continues to start matches following the horrible lay-off.
6) Balotelli needs to be made a permanent ‘2nd choice’ penalty taker…
This one’s simple. When Steven Gerrard isn’t on the pitch, and Mario Balotelli is, the Italian, who’s notched 27 out of 29 career spot-kicks, should AUTOMATICALLY take them. Not Jordan Henderson, who’s missed his only ever penalty, and not Daniel Sturridge – who’s not comfortable from 12-yards either.
