All
the talk from Seville is that 21-year-old Alberto Moreno will swap boyhood club
Sevilla for Liverpool. Here, Whoscored.com
explain whether or not it is a good move...
Having secured the signature of Rickie Lambert, Liverpool are now supposedly keen on adding
Alberto Moreno to their ranks. He was unfortunate not to make Spain’s World Cup
squad, though his inexperience on the international stage is likely to have
been the main reason he missed out.
Nevertheless, the left-back impressed for Sevilla last
season as Unai Emery’s side won the Europa League and finished fifth in La
Liga. His displays for Los Rojiblancos saw Real Madrid linked with a move, but Liverpool are
now the rumoured frontrunners in the race to sign him, though it remains to be
seen whether Moreno is a necessity for the club.
His 6.89 WhoScored.com rating
last season in La Liga isn’t exactly poor, but it’s questionable whether he is
an improvement on Jon Flanagan. The Reds youngster impressed under Brendan Rodgers at left-back, as his 7.15 average
rating in the position suggests.
Moreover, Flanagan averaged more tackles per game (3.4) than
Moreno (1.8) in their respective leagues last season, though the latter made
more interceptions per match (2.5) than the former (1.7). However, some feel
Moreno would not replace Flanagan, but rather Glen Johnson on the right, in the starting XI.
Over time, Flanagan is expected to move to the right
side of defence, especially with Johnson turning 30 in August. The current
Liverpool right-back is likely to start for England at the World Cup, but
questions have been asked regarding the consistency of his performances, with
some debating whether he retains sufficient quality.
His 7.12 WhoScored.com rating last season dropped from the
previous campaign (7.25), with Reds fans contemplating whether he is past his
best. Johnson did average more tackles per game (2.2) than Moreno, though the
England man made fewer interceptions per match (1.7) than his Spanish
counterpart.
Plenty of fans feel Johnson needs replacing sooner rather than
later. A poor showing at the World Cup could well signal the end of his time at
Anfield, especially if manager Brendan Rodgers feels he can acquire better
options in defence. If that is the case, Moreno would certainly make for a good
signing.
The youngster has time to improve his game and under the
watchful eye of Rodgers, who has brought out the best in Flanagan, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling, Moreno should be able to reach
his potential at Anfield. Of course, if his arrival hinders the development of
Flanagan, many will wonder whether it’s worth spending the reported £18m to
secure his services.
A move for Moreno, though, makes more sense than a deal to
bring Ashley Cole to Liverpool, such is the potential
for him to become one of the best in the game in his position. Moreno’s
crossing and dribbling are two statistically calculated strengths of his and he
boasts the necessary attacking quality that will allow Liverpool to stretch the
opposition and provide devastating balls into the box for the likes of Luis
Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and now Lambert to capitalise on.
If the Reds bring in Moreno so Flanagan can operate in a
more familiar role at right-back, then a move for the young Sevilla starlet
makes sense.
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