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Liverpool’s New Hyypia?

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Roll back the last few years to January 2008 and most people will recall that the signing of Martin Skrtel was met with many ‘oooo’s’ as we’d seen a fair bit of him playing for Zenit St Petersburg during their successful Uefa Cup run that season which culminated in the Russian’s winning the competition against Rangers in the Final.

Everybody will remember his first game and, like some fans tend to like to do these days, judged him rather unfairly on an initially shaky performance but Martin recovered and had a decent season.

The following few years were up and down and during Roy Hodgson’s 6 months in charge the Slovakian’s stock fell considerably due to a number of poor defensive performances from the Reds. However, a lot of people are now realising that this was in no way down to Skrtel’s performances but primarily caused by constantly changing partners at the back, uncertainty in midfield and, perhaps mostly, by Jamie Carragher’s wane meaning Skrtel was often having to take on two player’s workloads.

Once his partnership with Agger took off though, neither player looked back. Skrtel, in particular, has been roundly awesome all season and I can’t remember a single defensive error he has committed. In fact, OPTA would back this up with only his partner, Agger, Ledley King and Jolean Lescott (of the top defenders in the country) being able to match that record.

His uber-consistency has blown many people away and the lack of errors is highly reminiscent of the great Sami Hyypia in his pomp. It’s easy to forget that Sami wasn’t a spring chicken when he joined us (obviously, I mean in footballing terms), he was just a few months short of 26 and had campaigned Willem II for 4 years. When he arrived he was totally unknown but that was down to the ignorance of the English media to the wider European picture, at the time, rather than his own ability as a footballer; make no mistake, Sami was easily a top defender in Europe at the time, he was just a bargain.

On the other hand, Martin Skrtel joined us in January 2008, having played barely 100 games for Zenit over 4 seasons, at the age of just 24. For a central defender these days, that’s very young. Most defenders rarely reach their peak until 29-30, as the position generally doesn’t require much pace, so footballers can play on until their mid-to-late 30’s in the back four, just see Carragher and Hyypia as examples of this.

However, of these two legendary Reds defenders it is the big Finn that Skrtel reminds me of most. He is strong, without being outwardly aggressive; dominant without being dirty and, as demonstrated for most of this season, with the right partner at the back he is almost unflappable. His statistics are right up there with the best in the league and his tackle success rate has been consistently high all season at around 85%. Compare that to his main rivals and the likes of Mertesacker, Terry and King all average around 60-75%. Only Jolean Lescott and Vincent Kompany have rated higher up to this point and the pair of them play for the best team in the country.

Likewise, he has probably the highest overall win % in 50-50’s pretty much across the board this season, in terms of both aerial and on the ground, with around 75% overall win percentage. His closest rivals come in at around 72 and 73% respectively. So defensively, his overall game has improved in terms of consistency but also maturity; he is giving less away and his concentration has now reached the level whereby his performances rarely drop below the highest of levels in the Premier League. Compare that with about 18 months ago and Skrtel’s mistakes were not so rare and the fans were not so enthralled by his every performance.

But it is not only his defensive ability that would draw comparisons with big Sami, it is his ability as a threat going forward that has surprised me more than anything this season and I’m sure I’m not alone. So far this season Skrtel has scored 4 times and even managed an assist to his name as well! But that doesn’t tell the whole story; if you watch the whole of the second half of the League Cup final again you’ll see that, at times, Skrtel was our most dangerous player. He is a beast of a player when it comes to attacking the ball in the air and he is usually the man to make contact with our corners (well, those that actually beat the first defender) and he doesn’t just sprint straight back down to his own half afterwards, he generally makes a nuisance of himself and can be seen taking 3 or 4 shots a game these days. It’s been too long since we had a centre-back that was a massive threat from set-pieces.

Overall, Martin’s game has come on 3-fold since the start of last season but it was always there and I’m glad that he’s finally coming good and getting the same appreciation as Dan Agger. Along with Lucas, he is perhaps our most improved player of the past 18 months and it may even be Lucas’s injury that has proven to further highlight his progression since the end of 2011. I should end this by making it clear that Martin Skrtel has a long way to go before he becomes the new Sami Hyypia but he has barely put a foot wrong all season and it head and shoulders above 99% of all central defenders in the league. Should these performances continue into May and beyond though, then perhaps those comparisons might start to seem a bit more realistic after all.

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I'm a 32 year old Liverpool fan, living in the heart of the City Centre. I've supported the club since the day I was born and have been writing articles for L4L for over 3 years, writing close over 350 articles in that time. My favorite player of the past generation is Sami Hyypia.

I am the current editor for L4L, with my day job being in R&D for the NHS.

20 comments

  • ShardeYNWALFC4EVER says:

    Skrtel was by far our best performer at Wembley on Sunday (AN EASY MOTM), what you do not see on the telly as it follows the ball is all the movement & awareness and organizing of our defense, he is seriously tough in the air and very quick and is not scared to defend his team mates when others overstep the mark like Bale the baboon did at Anfield.
    YNWA

  • Danny says:

    I said exactly this the other day!

  • Chris Tobin says:

    I was very critical of Skrtel in the early days, feeling he went to ground too easily, but this season he has been a monster, not only as Sharde says MOTM on Sunday, but Player of the season for reds.

    • Zahid says:

      I like you had doubts about Skrtel and still had this season felt theres always a silly mistake in him. However theses past few months hes been a rock in the team. Agger n Skrtel go hand in hand and i like the way he sticks up for his team mates n dnt take no shit.

      Now were missing Agger id give Coates or Kelly a chance then bring Carra back for 4-6 wks is a long time to have Carra in the back 4. He looks way past his best, hes not really had the pace throughout his career but now hes really a liability in the bak 4. Don’t get me wrong i love the guy and respect what hes done for the club hes a living legend but i wouldn’t rely on just him until Agger’s back.

    • Souey's 'tache says:

      Exactly that! He used to be too wreckless and dive in too early (probably still in him) but his timing and composure is much improved. MOM all day long on Sunday!

  • Mceglon says:

    He’s a real beast in the defense all over the country and also good in air.

    • CB says:

      To all who sing praises about Skrtel, do not get overboard especially when we have a living legend in Jamie Carragher. There is no other centre back in the world like Jamie Carragher who is truly a one-of-a-kind, technically inept footballer of any generation. No one even comes close to the manner in which Jamie HOOFS the ball… so repetitively, so consistently, so aimlessly, so cluelessly. Yes, and how can any of us ever forget that Jamie Carragher has outscored )own goals) any centre back who had played or is still playing this beautiful game we call football. Undeniably, an Anfield legend. Unequivocally, a living embarrassment!

      • Yasin says:

        What are you talking about?!?! He may not be the most graceful footballer and he may play long balls once too often but JC played a major role in Liverpool securing their 5th European cup by putting in last ditch accurate challenges putting his body on the line, since he’s been played in the centre of our defence we’ve had one of the best defensive records in the PL. He’s a DEFENDER and like a defenders he’s good at doing the things they should be good at and that – organising, tackling, tracking and heading. JC true legend.

        • CB says:

          JC as you call him puts in those last ditch challenges simply because he has such a poor, heavy first touch. Your emphasis of JC doing just that, time and time again, truly supports the fact that he is technically deficient. A living legend who is an embarrassment!

  • Glenn says:

    Him slamming Gareth Bale into the advertising hoardings has to be my moment of the season so far

  • Yasin says:

    CB – you are entitled to your opinion. I think most would disagree. I dream of a team of Carragers with his commitment and passion to the cause.

  • steven says:

    finally, someone who isnt afraid to speak the truth about carragher! well said CB. the only thing people ever point to is that he makes last ditch challenbges, has the desire and is a good leader. the only reason he has to make last ditch challenges is because hes never well positioned in the first place, has no pace, and no technique. his shouting quite frankly is an insult to the players who kno what they are doing better than he does, and personally anyone who plays for lfc should have the desire and love for the club. he is also appauling in the air, why do you think he never goes forward for corners, he cant win it let alone direct it.

  • Zahid says:

    Coates or Kelly should be Skrtel’s defensive partner until Agger’s fit. Especially against RVP if Carra plays RVP will run him ragged just like Henry did in the past. Even if Skrtel has the job to mark RVP theres still Walcott, Oxlade Chamberlain Gervinho who can give Carra a hard time. Coates n Kelly are good in the air and are quite tall which will come in handy against the gooooners, its a vitally important game to get us back in the running for the top 4

    • Jimmy Areabi says:

      Arsenal are known for their football, not long ball, so being ‘good in the air’ is not a priority.

      • Zahid says:

        I totally agree with you, but Kelly n Coates are more than capable of handling Arsenal they can live with the pace which i feel Carra will not be able to. Yes he has experience probably more then anyone on the pitch on Sat but we cnt always seek to rely on the Carras or Gerrards we need to things different when need be.

  • Jimmy Areabi says:

    Great article, but for me the comparisons to Hyypia are still a little early. The great Fin was a monster in the air and fully composed. Skrtel comes from a different school of defending, more mobile and aggressive in a tackle. His goalscoring is becoming a great feature (something which he chuckled about when I interviewed him a few months back!) which is a huge bonus and long may his improvements continue.
    As for Carragher, there’s nobody more committed to the cause and his experience is still something that should be called upon when injuries to Agger & Skrtel occur – Coates, for me, is not an option just yet.

  • Chris Tobin says:

    CB stop showing your complete ignorance on what makes a quality DEFENDER Carra23 is not Bobby Moore granted, but what he has offered this club over many seasons should not be disparaged in the way you do,he has some fantastic defensive qualities.
    If you are looking for an LFC embarrassment look no further than yourself and your comments, silly boy.

  • philip opara says:

    dagilish,shuld b more careful wit arsernal players bcos they r more youth wit speed.jose enrigue shuld b on bench,play johnson left,kelly right sktel n caraghier.spearing 4,play adams,downing,henderson,suarez bellamy,dnt play enrigue,

    • Souey's 'tache says:

      What’s Enrique done??! He’s been in our top 3 players all season long. What would be the point of dropping a specialized LB in favour of a RB?
      Granted Enrique has looked a little sluggish of late but he HAS to start

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