Despite spending over £100m since taking charge of Liverpool in January 2011, Kenny Dalglish has found it increasingly difficult to acquire a left back.
With Paul Konchesky’s Anfield nightmare finally resolved, Fabio Aurelio is the only senior left back at the club. Whilst he is a very good player, his injury problems mean he cannot be trusted to hold down the position for a whole season. Jack Robinson is the only other available left back, but at the tender age of 17, he isn’t quite ready to fill the role on a regular basis. Dalglish was even forced to play the likes of Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger in an unfamiliar position last season in order to plug the hole.
Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a wealth of world class left backs, and those that are around seem determined to play in Europe. Gael Clichy, a superb signing at just £7m, decided to join Manchester City due to their involvement in next season’s Champions League. For weeks, speculation was also rife that the Reds would be signing Benfica full back Fabio Coentrao, but he has since moved to Real Madrid for big money.
The two left backs most recently linked with a move to L4 are Newcastle’s Jose Enrique and Lyon’s Aly Cissokho. Both are relatively young, 25 and 23 respectively, and would provide good quality going forward with their pace and delivery. With the acquisition of Stuart Downing from Aston Villa, either full back could form a lethal left side partnership – a prospect which would leave Andy Carroll drooling.
Crucially, the price tag of either would be considerably lower than the €30m paid by Madrid for Coentrao and may even allow Dalglish to make further signings to strengthen the squad.
Whoever Dalglish decides upon will need to slot into the set up quickly, which may sway Dalglish in the favour of Enrique, due to his experience in the English game. And whatever the decision, it is critical that Liverpool sign a specialist left back this summer.
OurKop.com would like to welcome Kristian Johnson to the team
You seem to forget that we have Insua back, and that with Kelly fit we can also play Glen Johnson at RT back, a role that he excelled in last season. I do think that we will probably get Aly Cissokho from Lyon, a skilled and pacy RB with similar skills to Johnson in getting forward. It is also likey that we will see a lot more 3 5 2 next season with the player we have in the midfield.
…..and you forget that Insua is a bag of shyte and cannot defend for toffee.
the guy from lyon hopefully!
We should try as much as possible to sign Aly cisokho
What !? Insua is not Shite… intact I think it is stupid that we loaned him out last season ! he has class and proved today in the friendly that he has class
Fk me! Some people have such a short memory!? Insua is complete toss! He can not be trusted with the left back slot, one half decent game in a friendly don’t make a bit of difference!
when Insua plays his fat little soft body rolls around the pitch like a umpaa lumpaa. One of the best crossers I have seen at Anfield for a while mind you, but to quote Alan Hansen “he’s never been a defender”. left midfield you ask?…MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmn…I think you may be on to something.
Why not play Johnson Left back? He’s the best left back we’ve had for 10 years.
@The Rock: u seem to have forgotten a certain guy with a rocket left foot who could also play left midfield. Only problem was he was a friend of Abrahamovic.
@Phil: Insua is/was inadequate at leftback. he is small, lacks stamina and is easily bullied by d opposition. I know he’s still young and will improve but his loan move was a waste of time, so its safe to assume that he’s not any beta than he was last time.
who ever we sign, I just hope he can defend well(which is the most important thing) so we dont end up havin 2 ‘Johnsons’ (with explosive attackin ability but questionable defending).
I hear KK is not convinced by Enrique’s defensive attributes, but the same can also be said about Cissoko. I wouldnt be suprised if we dont sign any of the 2.
Hope we get Aly Sissokko from and Insua as backup.
Which games did Kenny Play Agger at Left back ?
I seen Kelly play there under Hodgson & he done wel , I seen Wilson play there under Kenny & he done well , Flannigsn , Robbinson & Johnson also played there under Kenny .
As for Aurelio being a good Player ?
Gimme a break , even in the 5 games per season the delicate little poofter does manage to mince his way onto the pitch he can never pss the ball further than 10 yards or even pass it successfully more than 3 times in a row .
He is a second division player & the Anti British/Irish sentiment running through the supporters of our club is the only reason the consistent & reliable Paul Koncheskey , who has been one of the very best Left Backs in the PL this past 5 years got the Robbie Keane treatment , our foreign fans didnt think he was flamboyant enough so he got scapegoated .
As for Gael Glichy ?
The last good season he had was back in 2006 , since then he has been at best average & more honestly a player the Arsenal fans havent even so much as raised a whimper about seeing the back of .
Enrique is a good player but Leighton Baines has been & is the most consistent LB in the PL this past 3 seasons & the only reason Ashley Cole is in the England team ahead of him is the same reason a buffoon like N’Gog has a professional contract at a European Cup winning club like Liverpool , namely Politics .
Other than Baines , Gareth Bale is the only other player capable of playing 30 solid games for LFC next season , Anyone saying different is either a fool , a liar or they are part of a scouting network in Europe posting on here in their free time , which is about as likely as Poulsen winning the Ballon d’OR next season .
Those people who think that Jonhson can do a job for us at leftback next season are blind.
Johnson needs to go back to his natural RB position, and if we stick him at leftback much more than we need to, it’s the same as taping up a crack in a wall and hoping it goes away.
A new leftback is a definite must this summer.