No Coutinho, No Problem – Emre Can’s Shift To Advanced Role Can Solve Liverpool’s Injury Problems

It is quite fair to say that the Merseyside club – Liverpool – are on a roll. The advantage of not participating in any European competition has been utilised in a fine fashion and the manager – Jurgen Klopp – has taken them to the seventh sky.

Since that 2-0 defeat at hands of Burnley in match-week 2, the Reds are unbeaten in all competition and have been thrashing every single side coming in their way, and the latest victim being; The Black Cats Sunderland. Of course, they had their nervy moments like the game against Manchester United and Southampton, but their prolific form in front of the goal has got them all 3 points.

The young Merseysiders are currently the top scorers in the Premier League with 32 goals, but many have now feared that the recent injury to Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane’s participation in the African cup of Nations will halt their winning momentum. Well, that surely is going to be a big issue, but the problem can be undone with the newly found form of their previous number 6, Emre Can.

The 23-year-old German international missed the initial games of the League due to injury and saw his spot being taken by the new arrival Gini Wijnaldum. The favour was returned by the Dutch and since then, Can has cemented his spot, but this time around, the manager has deployed him in a more advanced role and the former Leverkusen midfielder has repaid the faith with two wonderfully struck goals.

The midfielder, who scored just two goals in the entirety of last season, opened his account this season at Selhurst Park against the Eagles and that form saw him scored in the following game against Watford and for the first time in his career, the German scored two goals in two consecutive games.

The reason for him being deployed in an advanced role has been the prolific form of Jordan Henderson in the deep playmaker role. The 26-year-old has been a revelation this season, as he is unarguably one of the best holding midfielders in not just in England, but in the entire continent. To support the say, the fact that he has completed the maximum number of passes and has won more possession than any other player in the League easily backs his cause.

Despite missing four games in the League, the German holds the second spot in terms of possession won per 90 minutes (within the team) – behind Henderson. This is no secret that the attacking duo has been stealing the show for the Merseysiders, but we cannot overlook what Emre Can has been transformed into. The 23-year-old, known for his versatility in the defensive areas, has been one of the 13 players to score for Liverpool. To support him further, the German has already equalled Paul Pogba’s Premier League goal tally in fewer games.

Can himself confronted that this new role can bring out the goal scoring abilities withing him. Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, the German said:

“It’s a different role to last year when I played more as the No 6.” 

“That was more of a controlling position. Now I can attack more and my target is to score more goals and get more assists. I think it suits me because I like to run forward and to be dangerous.”

Liverpool do have some worries regarding the fitness of their stars like Adam Lallana, Coutinho and Firmino, but the midfield region is one of the safest spots for the team, as they have enough cover for every position. It will be interesting to see how Klopp will manage to rotate his squad once Lallana comes to full fitness, as Wijnaldum will demand regular game time.

Rotation can be done till the time Coutinho is sidelined. If the manager tends to stick with his 4-3-3 line-up; he can deploy Adam Lallana on the right flank and Mane can be shifted to the left side and with that, both Can and Wijnaldum can enjoy the possession amongst each other.

Just a suggestion!