Fair rankings, Reds?
Here’s EOTK’s top five Liverpool players this season so far…
5) Simon Mignolet
Three games, three clean-sheets for Belgian, who’s now kept more than any other stopper in the top flight during 2015. He’s not so much kept us in games and won us points with wonder-saves, but he’s been very solid when called upon, which is all you can ask of a big club’s keeper. He’s looked visibly more confident at claiming crosses, and has made correct decisions as when to catch and punch, too. Distribution wise, he’s enjoyed being allowed to pump it long to Christian Benteke as well – and s few chances have been created already from that long ball option.
4) James Milner
Fans hoped Milner would provide experience, hard-work and a bit of talent in central midfield, and he’s done just that. He’s covered more ground than any other Red during the three matches (unsurprisingly) and kept us ticking over appropriately as well. From the middle, he’s been able to express himself more and has played countless sprayed passes to either flank – which he was unable to do while deployed on the wing at City. Against Arsenal Milner led the side in Jordan Henderson’s absence through injury, and looked like he’d worn the armband for years. Remember, this guy didn’t cost us a transfer fee.
3) Joe Gomez
Probably the most lauded of Liverpool’s players so far this season, purely on the fact that many Reds hadn’t even heard of Joe Gomez before he arrived in the summer for a measly £3.5m. But the 18-year-old was so impressive during pre-season that he started the campaign ahead of Alberto Moreno at left-back, and he’s certainly repaid his manager’s faith. Gomez rarely ventures into the opposition half (probably because he’s naturally a centre-back), but this enables him to be a rock in defence. In terms of tackles, blocks and clearances he’s been statistically as good or better as any fullback in the top flight so far.
2) Coutinho
Coutinho earns a spot in this top 5 solely based on his wonder-strike on opening weekend, which won us the three points versus Stoke, and set the tone for our start to the campaign. While he missed his opportunities against Bournemouth he was constantly creating trouble for the newly promoted side, and would have scored twice at the Emirates if Petr Cech and the woodwork were kinder. The signs are enormously promising though, and if he can back up his unrivalled creativity with consistent goals (as he’s threatening to), Coutinho could lead us into the top four all on his own. He’s definitely taken up the mantel of Liverpool’s pivotal attacker, and the play has gone through him during the three games more so than in previous seasons. His relationship with Christian Benteke also seems to be blossoming.
1) Nathaniel Clyne
In many ways, Clyne’s superb performances have gone under the radar to most observers, but not Liverpool fans who are truly delighted to have upgraded on Glen Johnson in such spectacular fashion. Simply, he’s not put a foot wrong in our opening three victories, and snuffed out the threat of Alexis Sanchez in our last match against Arsenal. The Englishman is sharp in the tackle and gets himself between the attacker and the ball excellently. Most impressively, he knows exactly when to stay back and when to offer himself on the overlap, and his dribbling skills make him a viable offensive option down the right flank. For £12m, Clyne could dominate the right-back position for the next five or six years because he’s only 24-years-old, so capturing him for such a low fee in this crazy market is great business. He deserves a huge chunk of the credit for our three clean-sheets so far.
