Should LFC Rely Only on Emre Can?

Despite Liverpool’s disappointing transfer activity from last summer, there was one silver lining that emerged from the depressing cloud.

At only £10m, Liverpool’s purchase of Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen proved to be their only shrewd purchase in the 2014/15 season, and even then the young German was not perfect by any stretch.

Hopefully, some of the other players that were brought in a year ago can deliver in their second season, if they remain at the club. Adam Lallana showed flashes but needs long-term fitness and consistency, Alberto Moreno needs to recapture the form he showed in the opening months of the season, Dejan Lovren just needs to find some form, while Lazar Markovic needs a run in the side in his proper position, rather than as a right wing-back.

However, it’s Can who is the one Liverpool fans are talking about the most, especially as a potential successor to Steven Gerrard in the centre of midfield.

His form for Germany in the European Under-21 Championship was superb as they made the semi-finals, with a number of Bayern Munich fans unhappy that they did not buy back Can from Leverkusen when he signed for Liverpool.

Known for his versatility, his first season at Anfield demonstrated fully that he could play in a number of positions, particularly impressing at centre back. He became part of a three man defence that enjoyed a lot of success in the middle third of last season as the Reds threatened to snatch a Champions League place.

However, whilst he was performing well and offering a creative output from the back, it soon became clear that Can was a target for other teams.

The likes of Manchester United and Aston Villa in their victories played off Can with their respective strikers, as his aerial ability and defensive experience were not of the same standard when compared to Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho.

Perhaps this should have been noticed earlier, such as when his naivety led to Eden Hazard winning and scoring a penalty in the League Cup semi-final clash at Anfield, which went a long way to helping Chelsea secure the victory over the two legs.

When the season began to fall apart at the end, Can was asked to play at right-back by manager Brendan Rodgers, and the less said about that experience the better, especially regarding the 6-1 defeat to Stoke City.

The 21 year old did reasonably well out of position last season, and definitely demonstrated a large amount of his potential. Yet that was a unique emergency situation, and for this season he has to play in centre midfield, or not at all.

He has proved he can perform in the position for Germany this summer and he has shown glimpses in the centre for the Reds.

One particular performance that comes to mind is the 3-2 win over Tottenham at Anfield, where he was moved into midfield for the final stages and just effortlessly accelerated past players, akin to Yaya Toure or Paul Pogba.

Can has been described as a Rolls-Royce of a midfielder, and he could easily become a classy operator for Liverpool in that position for the next decade.

At least that’s what everyone hopes.

Who knows whether it was Rodgers or other members of the transfer committee that sanctioned the transfer of Emre Can. Furthermore, as with many other players, initially Can may have been taking time to settle into life at Anfield. Regardless, in the early months of last season, Rodgers did not seem to trust Can in any position, let alone his preferred centre midfield.

It was not until December that Can managed to break significantly into the first-team and that was as a defender.

In the final few games, when there was little on the line, surely it would have made more sense for Rodgers to try out Can in midfield, if that was to be his long-term position? It’s understandable that Gerrard had some time in the centre for his final fixtures in a Liverpool shirt, but the German could have had at least a half, or thirty minutes – some game time to become accustomed to the responsibilities of playing in the centre.

If he does become a first-choice midfielder for Liverpool next season, it will likely be in a holding position, behind Jordan Henderson and new signing James Milner.

Therefore, Can has to develop a tactical awareness that Gerrard lacked in that position on his own. He needs to shield the defence and be disciplined, while watching out for the runs of opposition players.

It is a very hard job to perform on your own, as Gerrard found out in the opening games of 2014/15 after his successful stint in that position at the base of a midfield diamond in 2013/14.

Two defensive players, such as the Xabi Alonso/Javier Mascherano partnership, ensures greater stability and balance in the team and increased protection for the defence. Alas, Rodgers is not that type of manager, while Henderson or Milner alongside Can would still be defensively vulnerable as both Englishmen like to get forward rather than perform a deep-lying playmaker role.

Consequently, another player needs to arrive who can play in this position, either to partner Can or compete with him, as he cannot suddenly be ushered all of this responsibility on his own, especially as this will basically be his first season in centre midfield.

Lucas Leiva could help Can develop his defensive responsibilities, and would provide good competition for the defensive role, but he doesn’t offer enough on the ball alongside Can, and is likely to leave the club this summer anyway. Meanwhile, Joe Allen is only good enough to be a squad player at the club.

Players such as Asier Illarramendi or Alex Song would be ideal, as they would compliment Can in midfield or provide something different in the lone defensive role, with Illarramendi’s touch and control, Song’s strength and tackling and Can’s drive and suave.

Emre Can does have an important role to play next season for Liverpool, but he cannot be relied upon to protect the defence on his own.