Can Influence Vital as Liverpool Prepare For Sevilla Clash
When Jurgen Klopp took charge of Liverpool, there were questions over which players would be shown the Anfield exit door. Dejan Lovren’s underwhelming displays under the stewardship of former boss Brendan Rodgers led to suggestions he would be sold. However, the Croat’s performances - particularly in 2016 - mark a superb turn around in fortunes, with Lovren forming a solid defensive partnership with Mamadou Sakho - prior to his suspension - at the heart of the defence.
To some, Lovren has gone from expendable to indispensable under Klopp. He wasn’t the only one who had been linked with a move away either. Adam Lallana, for all his tenacity and energy, struggled to complete 90 minutes under Rodgers. With Klopp at the helm, there were questions over how he would fit into the side under the demanding German. Yet, like Lovren, Lallana has come on leaps and bounds under the watchful eye of the former Borussia Dortmund boss.
The duo, among others, have gone to great lengths to impress the new manager and for good reason. With a team built by Rodgers, every player - bar a select few - were effectively playing for their Anfield future. One of those whose place was unlikely to be under threat, however, was Klopp’s compatriot Emre Can. The midfielder was bought to the club with Rodgers at the helm and while used in a number of positions, has nailed down a regular starting spot in the middle of the park in the Reds' preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
His WhoScored rating since Klopp took charge prior to the 0-0 draw with Tottenham at White Hart Lane sits at a respectable 7.24 - only Philippe Coutinho (7.45) and Roberto Firmino (7.29) have gained higher of all Liverpool players in the Premier League in that time. That is a vast improvement on the 6.53 Can gained under Rodgers this season. Evidently, Klopp is playing the Germany international in a manner that brings out the best in the midfielder.
Indeed, an average of 64.9 passes per league game is the best of all Liverpool players under Klopp. He tops the same list in the Europa League with 61.8 passes per game. With Can dropping deep to receive the ball, his physical qualities allow for him to not only shrug off opposition pressure, but bring possession forward. A statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘dribbling’ means he has established himself as perhaps Liverpool’s most important player under Klopp, with Can completing 1.7 dribbles per Premier League fixture. Utilising his stature in the middle of the park, Can is a rare breed of midfielder in England’s top tier in that he’s more than capable of carry out a number of duties in the middle of the park. In essence, the 22-year-old is the ideal midfielder in the double pivot in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
It’s this continental approach to playing that has seen him play a key role in Liverpool’s progression to Wednesday’s Europa League final. Sevilla have won the last two editions of Europe’s second competition and are rightly confident of securing Europa League glory for a third successive season. Yet with Can unfazed by the opponents before him - only James Milner (7.46) has gained a better Europa League WhoScored rating than he (7.38) of all Liverpool players this term - he’s more than capable of winning the midfield battle that would swing the tie in the Reds’ favour.
Given the quality available to Unai Emery, this becomes all the more pivotal. The Sevilla boss is able to call on the creative Ever Banega, who is a key player for the La Liga outfit. Can, though, is more than capable of countering the 27-year-old, with his average of 3.2 tackles per European fixture better than any other Liverpool player. His defensive contribution could also be particularly vital as they look to stifle striker Kevin Gameiro, who has seven goals in eight Europa League appearances this season.
With Banega able to thread passes through to Gameiro, Liverpool need to do all they can to limit the Argentine’s influence to hinder Sevilla. In Can, though, Klopp can be confident the Rolls Royce midfielder can carry out the necessary defensive responsibilities required in order to minimise the opportunities on the Liverpool goal. This is all the more important when taking into consideration Sevilla have scored in each of their last five Europa League fixtures and their success in the competition in recent years.
With a place in next season’s Champions League at stake for the winner, this heightens the importance of the penultimate European fixture of the calendar. Liverpool have the personnel capable of denying Sevilla their third successive Europa League crown and securing glory under Klopp. In Can, the German has the ideal midfielder at his disposal needed to not only alleviate pressure on the defence, but instigate attacks from deep. If the German and his Liverpool teammates play to their potential, there’s no reason why the Reds can’t land themselves European glory in Basel tonight.
How big a role do you think Emre Can has to play in tonight's Europa League final? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
