Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel is one of only two players in the entire division to play every minute of every game in this season’s Premier League. It is a remarkable stat considering the poor performances which characterised his early season form. I am sure I was not the only one who had my doubts about the Slovakian when he first arrived. He was pretty shocking on his debut in the 5-2 victory over Havant & Waterlooville in the FA Cup in 2008, but he quickly found his game, and began to put in some assured performances.
One of the most memorable early games for me was an away tie in the 2008 Champions League against Inter Milan, where he performed a number of vital challenges and kept a clean sheet, to ensure a single Fernando Torres goal sealed victory. Since then, his form has fluctuated and injuries have also played their part in him not always playing to his full potential, with 2 crucial long term injuries which broke up periods where he was at the top of his game. A serious knee injury in the 2008/09 campaign and a broken metatarsal last season both meant to Skrtel not playing as often as he would like.
Still, his injury free record this season, shows beyond doubt that his susceptibility to injury is nowhere near the level suffered by his fellow centre back Daniel Agger. To not be unfair to the Slovakian, but I think it is fair to say he has been very fortunate to play in every single game in the Premier League this season. Like nearly every other Reds player, Skrtel’s form dipped sharply at the start of the campaign under Roy Hodgson and only recovered once King Kenny became manager. His consistent selection in the first team at the start of the season was more due to the successive injuries to both Daniel Agger and Jamie Carragher, although there is a debate to be had about whether the Slovakian might have been picked ahead of Agger by Roy Hodgson if the Dane was actually fit.
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Skrtel is a good defender no question about that but he’s definitely not as good as Danny. Totally agree that the Greek and Skrtel as a pair are awful lol their display at Blackburn earlier on in the season was so bad it was I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry! The big Greek will be going in the summer, a shame really because he always gives it his all and had a bit of character about him!!!!!
YNWA
I agree, he’s a very good defender and a decent footballer; there’s a lot more to come from him. Sadly, too many Reds fans didn’t take to him immediately due to him having a similar style to Carragher and believing he was a replacement, so they’ve never been able to to take to him since.
I think Skrtel is easily a better defender than Agger but lacks the Dane’s ability with the ball, that’s why they’re such a good partnership; they encapsulate all of Sami Hyypia’s strong points in two players.
Long may his good form and good fortune continue.
If Skrtel really is so much a better defender than Agger, why does he always hand over the more difficult defensive assignment to our ‘cultured centre-back’ when they are paired together?? Skrtel is an average centre-back as far as I’m concerned, and the sooner that he is moved on, the better!
one day.. i like to see..
……skertel..cahill..agger…….
lennon………spearing…..downing
…….gerrard……..lucas……..
………suarez…caroll………..
Skrtel was good when he first played for LFC but this season and the end of last, he was pretty poor. I think it’s time to drop him to the bench as a back-up or sell him; promote Wilson and Ayala; and move Kelly back to his favoured role as a centre half.