Gini Wijnaldum emerges as Liverpool’s Dembele-esque silent leader

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Following back-to-back draws, Liverpool put recent jitters behind them as they returned to winning ways at Bournemouth’s expense.

It was yet another performance which highlighted the importance of Georginio Wijnaldum in Liverpool’s midfield.

Aside from bagging a goal, his second this season, the Dutchman was here, there and everywhere. His five touches in the Bournemouth penalty area was substantially higher than his season average (0.95 per game).

Having missed the West Ham stalemate, Wijnaldum’s presence felt like a breath of fresh air. In fact, it is his absence at the London Stadium that further illustrated exactly what he brings to the table.

“An outstanding player”

His Dutch upbringing has made for a versatile player. In fact, Wijnaldum has played in no fewer than six positions under Klopp since joining the Merseyside giants from Newcastle United (where he suffered the ignominy of relegation) in 2016.

Originally a ‘number 10’, and regular scorer of goals, the Rotterdammer would gradually move away from the role he made his own at PSV Eindhoven at Newcastle United, where Wijnaldum was occasionally deployed on the flanks.

It never fazed him. Wijnaldum saw an opportunity to add another string to his bow as well as enhancing his tactical acumen. Since linking up with Klopp, though, he’s been nominally utilised as a ‘number six’, most recently against Bournemouth and has been lauded for his technical excellence and tenacity. As one of the division’s best readers of the game, he’s the conduit between defence and attack. Or as Klopp has previously put it, the ‘link man’.

Wijnaldum’s energy and athleticism complement his razor-sharp brain, allowing him to balance the Liverpool side while transitioning between defence and offence. And in this role, the multi-functional central midfielder forms the kernel around which the rest of Liverpool’s panache is built.

What’s fast becoming apparent is just how challenging it can be to dispossess him. Wijnaldum, akin to former Spurs midfielder Mousa Dembélé, is near impeccable when it comes to shielding the ball. Since the start of last season, no Liverpool midfielder has a better record in terms of the number of times they lose position per 90 minutes (8.86).

He also has the highest dribble success of any Liverpool player to have successfully completed over 30 dribbles (66%).

This facet of Wijnaldum’s game, plus the consistent displays he produces, has deservedly been recognised by his boss.

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“He’s an outstanding player,” Klopp said following Liverpool’s empathic 5-1 win over Arsenal in December 2018.

“He combines a lot of things that you need. On a one-on-one situation, he can keep the body between the opponent and the ball, then pass the ball.

“I don’t know how many positions he’s played. In the double-six, he plays really well. He can play all three positions in midfield and that’s really nice.”

Liverpool’s silent leader

Wijnaldum’s calming presence subsequently saw him voted the club’s fourth captain by his peers. He is not the shouting type, but nor is he afraid of making his feelings known. Gini’s leadership takes the form of a support role behind the scenes, where James Milner calls him a ‘manager in the form of a player’.

Such out-of-view attributes are consistent with what Wijnaldum provides. To appreciate him truly, it’s worth acknowledging that the more obvious numbers don’t always paint the full story.

You won’t find his name atop of Liverpool’s standings when it comes to chances created or tackles and interceptions, even though he’s shown at PSV and Newcastle that he is very much capable in these areas.

Rather, it is his engine, which enables him to cover ground and be a presence at both ends of the pitch, that makes him the perfect Klopp player as the German tactician values such traits as it is useful in his pressing and positional game. This naturally has a galvanising effect on his teammates.

His work is now being fully appreciated, supporters and rivals alike have identified Wijnaldum, who captained PSV Eindhoven to Eredivisie glory in 2015, as a key component to Liverpool’s championship hopes. There isn’t anyone else at Klopp ‘s disposal that can do what he does.

The clearest indication of this importance is the lengths to which Wijnaldum has been asked to go for Liverpool’s cause. As player and manager revealed after the game, Wijnaldum played through illness when Eddie Howe brought his team up north this Saturday.

“On Thursday night I had a tablet from the doctor for my knee,” he told reporters. “It was a tablet that could induce stomach pains. I took it and I had a pain and thought it was from the tablet. In the end, I was vomiting and everyone was a little bit scared. I didn’t train on Friday and I didn’t sleep at the hotel either because they thought I might infect other players.

“The manager called me and asked if I could play. I said I was as positive as I can be. In the morning I was still weak and had diarrhoea. The tablets helped a lot but even at half-time, I had to run off quickly to get to the toilet. At half-time I thought: ‘Oh no’ but I ran inside and managed to control it!”

Such willingness can be interpreted in different ways. But, with the Reds chasing a first English league title since 1990, it will only strengthen his standing among the Kop faithful. Wijnaldum, though not raised on the club’s illustrious history, very much typifies his predecessors. Without him, Liverpool are a very good side. With him, they are an even better one, and if they do go on to end a 29-year title drought, then Wijnaldum’s silent leadership – the man who more than most embodies Klopp’s overarching vision in a red jersey – will have been a decisive factor.

 

The post Gini Wijnaldum emerges as Liverpool’s Dembele-esque silent leader appeared first on Squawka News.



From Squawka News http://bit.ly/2TE94ey
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