Why This English Playmaker Should Start Ahead Of Can In The Next Game For Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp will hope that his Liverpool side will continue their great form against Hull City in the Premier League. The Reds were professional in their last win over Derby County in the EFL Cup and there was more good news for Liverpool fans.

Emre Can was back in action for the Reds in the game against Derby. The German played only 33 minutes for the Merseyside club and getting him back into the XI would be a boost for the side’s chances in the Premier League.

Many have questioned the German manager and his tactic of playing Jordan Henderson in the role of the holding midfielder and with Can back to full fitness, it does left Klopp with a dilemma. Henderson is certainly in form at the moment but Can is a better defensive midfielder.

Henderson or Can?

The Liverpool captain had been under fire recently but more than that, it was Klopp’s decision to play Henderson deep in the Liverpool midfield. The Englishman was starting with Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana in a midfield trio, certainly not the most defensive minded in the league.

The midfield does lack bite and steel but Henderson has been playing the quarterback role and his best moment came in the 2-1 win over Chelsea. Henderson was great against Derby as well and he was given a much-needed rest as the Liverpool captain was replaced by Can after 57 minutes.

While Henderson does have a greater range of passing and ball distribution, he isn’t built like a tank like Can. The German midfielder certainly is a beast when it comes to chasing down the opposition and putting his foot into challenges and winning possession back for the side.

Can is also known for his excellent energy levels, though Henderson is not far behind in that aspect of the game. Many believe that Can and Henderson should be playing in midfield together and one from Lallana and Wijnaldum should be dropped.

Klopp, however, wants to stick to his three-man midfield and with the form that Adam Lallana is in, he cannot be dropped. A similar case can be put up for Wijnaldum as the former Newcastle man has been full of running and has linked up really well with the rest of the team.

As Liverpool prepare to face Hull, Reds fans will hope that this is not a case similar to the one against Burnley. Jordan Henderson will have to be on his game as he would be preferred to Can at the moment.

The German has just made his comeback from injury and playing more than 45 minutes could be a problem for him. Hull have been a bogey team of sorts for Liverpool in recent seasons but Klopp will hope to extinguish any fears of a poor performance early in the game.

Setting the tempo is a must for Liverpool and with Henderson on fire at the moment, he should start as the deepest midfielder for the Merseyside club.