Should Liverpool persist with this 23-year-old Spaniard?

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Last week, Liverpool were 90 seconds from securing a 0-0 draw with Villarreal and putting themselves in a great position to reach this year’s Europa League Final. Then, disaster struck at El Madrigal and the Reds are now 90 minutes from another disappointing campaign as they face an uphill task to down the ‘Yellow Submarine’. What was most sickening though was the nature of the goal they conceded. Having seemed content with a 0-0 draw for most of the game, Liverpool were hit by a counter-attack as they somehow left themselves incredibly exposed despite being in injury time at the end of the first leg.

There are always a number of things that lead to goal but the main culprit was left-back Alberto Moreno who was caught way up-field. It appears the left-back just isn’t learning with repeated mistakes costing the team goals. If the incident had happened under Brendan Rodgers, many would have criticised the manger for being too gung-ho and not being able to close out a game. With a new manager in Jurgen Klopp now in the Liverpool dugout, Moreno simply has no place to hide.

The Spaniard has endured an up and down time in Merseyside to date, ranging from spectacular goals such as his solo effort against Spurs in September 2014 to being left out of the side in favour of 18 year-old Joe Gomez at the start of this season.

There’s no doubting the left-back’s commitment to his football and his clubs. When he left Sevilla for Liverpool, the Spaniard was seen shedding tears as he waved goodbye to the fans. His continuous runs up and down the left wing mean that effort has never been a question mark against Moreno. He also appears to be a good character to have around the dressing room, enjoying laughs and jokes with his team-mates both on and off the pitch.

Whilst Moreno is still a source of frustration for lots of fans, many of the defenders stats have improved from last season. The Spaniard has become even more of an attacking force for Liverpool and according to Squawka has provided more key passes (50 compared to 33), created more chances (54 compared to 33), provided more assists (4 compared to 0) and taken more shots (35 compared to 18) than in the 2014-15 campaign. Defensively, the Spaniard has also made improvements and has won more tackles (65 v 40), produced more interceptions (60 v 33), committed less fouls (29 v 36) and made less defensive errors (2 v 4) this season.

The problem is, statistics can’t measure concentration. If they did, Moreno’s would surely be one of the lowest in the league. The number of times an opposition winger gets in behind the Spaniard is countless and one of the major reasons for this is Moreno simply not showing enough diligence with his defending.

There is a valid argument that Brendan Rodgers’ spell in charge of Liverpool never recovered from the loss at home to Manchester United last March, a result that all but ended Liverpool’s hopes of a top 4 finish. Whilst everyone will remember Steven Gerrard’s 38 second red card, fewer will recall that Juan Mata’s opener, when it was still 11 v 11, came from a classic Moreno defensive lapse.

Rodgers had clearly decided that the Spaniard was more suited to playing as a wing-back in a back 5 than as a full-back in a flat back 4. A change of formation originally led to the Spaniard’s recall this season and there is no doubt that his attacking intents help Liverpool offensively. Despite being free scoring in recent months, the Reds were hugely struggling in front of goal during the first half of the campaign. They scored more than one goal in just four of their first 20 league games, a truly astonishing statistic. During that period though, Moreno was one of the few attacking bright spots for the club, providing a continual outlet down the left hand side.

However, the one thing that so often lets the Spaniard down is his final delivery. He gets into fantastic positions during games but wastes the opportunity, most commonly by showing a lack of composure and just hammering the ball across the area, not giving anyone an opportunity to get on the end of it. It is the sort of trait that matches his game of 100% effort and all blood and thunder. However, with his 24^th birthday just around the corner, one would have hoped some more maturity would have developed into his game.

Quite simply, it hasn’t, and with Moreno’s defensive woes well known it means Liverpool will need to look for a new left-back this summer if they hope to be competing for a top four Premier League finish next season.

Featured image: All rights reserved by LFC Season 2015-16.