Markovic in action for Benfica

This week saw Liverpool complete the signing of Benfica’s Lazar Markovic for a reported £20 million. The Serbian international becomes Brendan Rodgers’ fourth summer signing, after Southampton duo Ricky Lambert and Adam Lallana joined along with Bayer Leverkusen’s Emre Can.

Markovic started his career playing for the youth selections of Borac Cacak (he was born in the Serbian city of Cacak), Markovic joined Serbian side Partizan Belgrade in 2006 as a 12-year-old trainee where he played for two years, scoring 13 goals in 46 appearances. This impressive form despite still being a teenager prompted Portuguese giants Benfica to sign him on a 5-year deal only last summer for a fee reported to be around £9 million.

He scored on his debut for his new club, coming off the bench to notch an equalizer in the second minute of injury time and he carried on his excellent start to his Benfica career with some fine early form, including an excellent goal in the Lisbon derby against city rivals Sporting CP. Let’s hope he can do something similar against Everton in September.

He finished the 2013/2014 league season with 5 goals in 26 appearances, a feat that helped Benfica enjoy domestic success as they were crowned champions of Portugal. In all competitions, Markovic ended the campaign with 7 goals in 44 appearances for the treble winners, who also reached their second consecutive Europa League final but finished as runners-up also for second year in a row after losing out to Spanish Club Sevilla on penalties.

The Serbian missed the final having been sent off for an altercation on the touchline with Juventus’ Mirko Vucinic in the semi-final second leg after being substituted.

Lazar is considered as being a ‘winger’, although he is better described as a ‘wide forward’. He can operate comfortably from either flank but he predominantly played on the right side for Benfica, where he frequently drifted inside to join in more central areas to dictate play.

“ Markovic …….a player with

exceptional qualities and impressive

acceleration”

Andrea Stramaccioni – Manager of

Udinese

He is also very capable of playing centrally in the number 10 role and his flexibility to play anywhere across the forward line is something that suits Brendan Rodgers’ fluid attacking system.

The exciting wide-man is known for his outstanding dribbling ability which aided by his incredible acceleration and pace over long and short distances – key characteristics for a quick attacking team – sees him glide effortlessly past opposition players.

Markovic loves to drift into central positions from out wide, where he can receive the ball in pockets of space and is able to turn and run at the opposing defence using his electric pace and close ball control which makes him so hard to defend against in 1v1 situations.

“I went to Partizan and won the title.

I went to Benfica and won the title.

Now I have joined Liverpool and

want to win the title, 100 per cent”.

– Lazar Markovic’s message to LFC

Supporters after signing

We all know that Brendan Rodgers’ philosophy is that his teams are pleasing to watch but also play with a high intensity and desire to win the ball back as quickly as possible, and Markovic, for all his wonderful talent in possession, is also renowned for his diligent work off the ball, pressing to win the ball back and assisting his full-back in deeper areas of the pitch.

Of course Markovic is not a direct replacement for Barcelona bound Luis Suarez but the 20 year old gives the manager a more flexible

The young winger has great strength for such a slight figure

and versatile option for his attacking positions in the team with his ability to play anywhere in a front three. He said in his first official Liverpool interview that he prefers playing on the left-hand side of the attack but would play anywhere the manager picks him.

Markovic’s ability to play centrally too means he is also capable of playing in behind the strikers, or striker, and therefore able to play at the top of a diamond shaped midfield – a formation Liverpool used to excellent effect in the latter half of last season.

Technical ability when in possession of the ball has become an essential requirement for players who ply their trade under Rodgers, and Lazar with his skill and composure when on the ball combined with his pace and athleticism as well as his tenacity out of possession makes him a perfect fit for this current Liverpool team.

Welcome to Liverpool Lazar!

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