Liverpool 2015/16 Player Reviews
So I want to do a review of how I feel all of LFC's squad performed in the 2015/16 season. I will only include the 24 players who played at least five games for the club in the league for the sake of space and time so apologies to the likes of Brad Smith, Adam Bogdan and Danny Ward. I will say that Smith was a mixed bag, Bogdan was awful and Ward promising. So without further ado, let's get into it.
Simon Mignolet - 4/10: There are very few Liverpool fans that I think would disagree with me on this one, although they might be slightly more lenient or brutal on Mignolet depending on how much they hate him. Nevertheless, there's no denying that Mignolet has made a lot of high profile errors in an LFC shirt, especially this season. The stats are brutal, the most defensive errors leading to goals of any keeper in the league, Mignolet has cost Liverpool at least 10 points this season. The amount of times Liverpool have conceded from one or two shots on target is ridiculous. He barely saves more than he lets in (1.27 saves per goal condeded, compared to 2.45 for DDG and 2.68 for Cech). Unfair to scapegoat one player, but let's be honest, he deserves all the slander he gets.
Nathaniel Clyne - 7/10: Clyne had a very strong debut season for LFC. Despite not necessarily offering as much as Alberto Moreno on the opposite flank in terms of attacking threat, Clyne looked a lot more solid overall defensively, and made almost no high profile errors. He was rarely spectacular, but he had as many amazing games as he did bad ones. He could stand to improve on his attacking threat, but he was also a very solid and dependable player and exactly what Liverpool needed this season in what had previously been a problem position.
Jon Flanagan - 6/10: Maybe a 6 is a tad generous, but Flano made his recovery from serious injury to play five games for LFC this season, mostly at right back. A club favourite but struggled at times this season when given the chance, but equally he didn't turn in any genuinely terrible performances. Hopefully he can reestablish himself this season as a genuine full back option.
Martin Skrtel - 5/10: Skrtel started the season as first choice, but found himself falling out of favour when Klopp came in. It was in the latter half of the season that it truly became clear how negative an influence Skrtel was having in the team, as Lovren and Sakho formed a partnership and Skrtel was involved in all of Liverpool's high profile defeats: West Ham, Man U, Newcastle, Watford, Swansea and of course, the infamous half where he came on for the second half against Southampton and promptly let Saido Mane destroy him to throw away the game almost single-handedly. Liability.
Kolo Toure - 7/10: Kolo Toure would not have been expected to play much of a role in LFC's season, But with injuries rocking Liverpool around Christmas, and then Sakho's drug charge taking effect, Kolo found himself thrust into a key role at times for Liverpool and he rarely put a foot wrong. Put in some huge performances in big games but didn't play enough of a role to score higher than a 7.
Dejan Lovren - 6.5/10: I had to think long and hard on Dejan Lovren. Like Skrtel, he's played some key roles in some reasonably high profile defeats, against United and West Ham early on, Leicester, Newcastle. But there's a strong correlation between his performance and his partner. Put next to Martin Skrtel, whose defensive organisation is terrible, he looks shaky. Put him in a RCB role with Mamadou Sakho and he's looked much much better, and played some big roles in some big wins. Overall, I think a 6.5 is fair, as it reflects both the positive and negative aspects of his season. He's a controversial figure amongst Liverpool fans, but he's come along leaps and bounds under Klopp.
Mamadou Sakho - 7/10: Sakho has become something of a cult hero amongst Liverpool fans. His unorthodox, languid style means that he always looks like he'll give the ball away, but his passing stats are very very good and he rarely actually gives the ball away (albeit more than Lovren and Skrtel). Moreover, he's turned in some truly amazing defensive displays, against Man United for example, and really came into his own. But for injuries and that ludicrous failed drugs test, he could have really stamped his authority on Liverpool's season. A real talent.
Joe Gomez - 6/10: A hot young talent who really showed a lot of potential in this LFC side before picking up a serious injury. Played out of position at LB and made some mistakes but also showed he has the raw attributes to be a really good central defender in years to come.
Alberto Moreno - 6/10: Moreno is another controversial figure. He's made some really high profile errors for Liverpool, resulting in the conceding of some big goals. A lot of Liverpool fans feel he's a defensive liability who needs to be replaced. Others recognise that he hasn't had a terrible season and offers a different attacking threat. I am somewhere in the middle. He's certainly prone to defensive errors, and nowhere near as solid as Clyne, but he also contributes to attacks. I prefer a defender who can defend, and I'm not convinced Moreno is a top defender at all, but by no means is he a complete write-off, nor was his season as bad as some make out.
Lucas - 6.5/10: Lucas is a perenially underrated player, even amongst LFC fans. He makes more tackles than anyone, he intercepts well, he really gets stuck in and he has easily been the best defensive midfield player at the club since Mascherano left. He does a job and he does it well. And to be blunt, I think a lot of the fouls and bookings that he gets given are unjust and due to his reputation but that's another point altogether. Lucas has done a job for the club but unfortunately he's also featured in some high profile defeats, been exposed on more than one occasion and struggled to deal with high intensity games. Past his best.
Kevin Stewart - 6/10: Stewart was given a run in the Premier League towards the end with injuries to Can and Henderson meaning that Liverpool made a lot of changes to juggle their European ambitions (something conveniently ignored by those happy to crow about their 8th place position). A real mixed bag from Stewart. He looked calm and comfortable when things were going well, but when things started going badly he was overwhelmed in the middle of the park. Definitely has talent, but I'm not convinced.
Jordan Henderson - 6/10: Henderson is a weird one. Statistically speaking, WhoScored suggest he's been Liverpool's 4th best player this season. And almost all of Liverpool's high profile defeats have been when he wasn't in the side (or came on as a late sub vs Saints). This coupled with the fact that he's been seriously struggling with injuries all season, mean that he really should be quite a sympathetic figure amongst Liverpool fans, and yet he's constantly held up as a symbol of failure, despite playing slightly out of position, being injured and actually, not playing that badly. None of that is to say Hendo has had a great season, because he hasn't, restricted to 15 starts with only 2 goals and 3 assists. But has he had a terrible season? No, not really. Hopefully he'll be back stronger in 2016/17.
Emre Can - 7/10: EMRE CAN. Look, every Liverpool fan out there loves Emre Can because he is a monster. He's strong, powerful, loves to run, loves to tackle, he can pass, he can do just about anything you'd ask a defensive midfielder to do. But as some have mentioned, he needs to decide what he wants to be. Is he a box to box or a deep lying playmaker or a defensive midfielder like Lucas? Part of the problem is a lack of a consistent partner but for me, Can needs Henderson next to him. Two similar players who can cover each other's strengths and weaknesses. This lad has a hugely bright future.
Joe Allen - 6/10: Joe Allen is another one with a weird cult hero status around the club. Klopp clearly doesn't rate him, because he's had a bit part role for Liverpool all season, but scored a couple of big goals. He's looked okay when he's played to be fair, but I'm not sold on him and he doesn't have what it takes to control big games.
James Milner 8/10: James Milner gets a lot of stick for no apparent reason, given that he's been arguably one of Liverpool's top three or four players this season. 14 assists in all competitions, including some huge ones in big games (Dortmund), plus seven goals means that he's consistently contributed to this Liverpool team. He's also been versatile, playing in central midfield and straightforwardly on the left and right, but he's constantly drifted to influence the play. A real asset to this Liverpool side, and given a new lease of life in his career under Klopp.
Jordon Ibe - 5/10: Ibe is a player who should have blossomed this season under Jurgen Klopp. But Klopp clearly didn't take to him and restricted Ibe to a dozen starts, both on the left and right. Sadly, he's not been able to live up to his potential and his final ball has been consistently poor. One goal in the league this season and very few meaningful performances mean that he's off to Bournemouth.
Sheyi Ojo - 7/10: Ojo has become essentially the new Ibe, a young, fast and dangerous winger who has moments of magic up his sleeve but hasn't quite been able to break the first team yet. However, he's been very impressive when he has played, having spent half the season on loan at Wolves, and three assists in five starts represents real signs that this lad can go far.
Phillipe Coutinho - 8/10: For many Liverpool fans, Coutinho was the player of the season and rightly so. The questions over his game were all about his end product, which he has vastly improved, with goals up to the double digits tally and plenty of assists on top of that. More importantly, he produced in the big games - the League Cup final, against Dortmund and United in the Europa League etc. He's had an excellent season under Klopp.
Adam Lallana - 6.5/10: I like Adam Lallana a lot. He does a really really good job for the team, he's started to contribute in big matches and Klopp clearly loves him. He's another vibrant attacking player who has found his role in Klopp's team. Since the turn of the year he's been nearly as good as Coutinho and Firmino. But he needs to improve his end product. Four goals and six assists in the league represents an okay tally, but if he wants to keep his place in 2016/17, it needs to be higher.
Roberto Firmino - 9/10: Roberto Firmino is already one of my favourite Liverpool players, if not my favourite. He's an absolute class act who has it all under his belt. He can dribble, he can pass, he can beat players and find players. But most importantly, he has that end product. Whether he plays up front in the false nine or just in behind, he scores goals and he creates goals. It took him a while to get settled at LFC, as expected, but once he got going, he was Liverpool's best player this season.
Danny Ings - 6.5/10: Danny Ings is another player that I am a huge fan of. He goes about his business, he works hard, and he deserves success at LFC. But, painfully, a serious injury restricted him to six appearances this season, half of those as a sub, and he still scored two goals in the league and one in the cup. A good option to have, who will hopefully come good.
Divock Origi - 8/10: Origi ended up being another bit part player this season, but one who when he got his chance under Klopp, snatched it up with both hands. He's been absolutely phenomenal in the back end of the season after a slightly rocky start, scoring five goals in seven starts and nine substitute appearances in the league, and breaking into double digits overall, with huge goals in both legs against Dortmund. Origi is a huge talent and will give Sturridge a run for his money this year.
Daniel Sturridge - 7.5/10: Daniel Sturridge is a hard one to characterize. I was going to give him a 7 but that seemed a bit low, given that he's been a 9/10 when he's actually played. But only 11 starts this season mean that he can't be given a very high score. And yet he's still contributed as many goals as anyone this season, including scoring in the EL final. Look, Sturridge is not just Liverpool's best striker, but one of the best strikers in the world when fit. He just needs to stay fit.
Christian Benteke - 6.5/10: Benteke is arguably the hardest of them all to determine. For long periods of this season, he really was a paradox. He scored goals, ten of them. Nine in the league. He was a goalscorer, and what's more he scored important goals, match-winning goals. But, on the other hand, he has stunted those around him. He's not contributed to the general team, he's really really killed Liverpool's fluency. There have been so many frustrating performances because of Benteke. And yet he is a match-winner. He just doesn't fit LFC. At all. It's a shame.
So there we have it. That's how I feel the boys have done this season. Tomorrow, I'm going to preview each position ahead of 2016/17, as well as a starting eleven, who we need to sign, and how I think we'll do.
The Hard and Fast Section
- England v Pakistan is going to be very close.
- Mickleson and Stenson look set for a battle royale.
- Kante to Chelsea confirmed. Real shame.
- GB in a real battle in the Davis Cup.
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