OPINION
Mark Schwarzer was asked to rank Chelsea and Liverpool’s midfielders ahead of the two sides clashing and one of his choices will certainly raise eyebrows.
The Sky Sports pundit was asked to pick three midfielders out of the options both sides had available to them and surprisingly opted for Naby Keita.
Schwarzer picked Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, Georginio Wijnaldum and Keita for his midfield, though did gush about Ross Barkley as well as Jordan Henderson ahead of locking his choices in.
“First one for me is Kante, that’s the first person who goes on the teamsheet, yeah N’Golo Kante, what a player,” said Schwarzer on Football Centre (Sky Sports News, Friday April 12th, 12:11).
“That’s how brilliant he has been, Erik Wijnaldum, Gini even, Wijnaldum has been brilliant this season, one of the standout players for Liverpool and then it’s really tough to pick.
“Jordan Henderson has been very good when playing, coming on as a right-sided midfielder, he’s been excellent, I think Keita has stepped up and done well then Ross Barkley has taken his opportunities as he has shown glimpses of being that player we expected to be.
“So i’m going to say Keita.”
While Keita is a talented player, he hasn’t exactly wowed at the Reds since arrive at Anfield this season.
Schwarzer claims that Keita has stepped up but it’s only in his last two outings that the 24-year-old has started to justify why he was signed in the summer.
So surely it’s a questionable decision by the pundit to effectively rate the Liverpool midfielder above the likes of Fabinho, who was an option despite not being pictured, James Milner and Henderson.
While the trio have all had their own ups and downs regarding their form this season, they all have delivered more memorable performances than Keita has this season.
Hence why Jurgen Klopp has opted to use all three more than Keita across the course of this season.
The 24-year-old may have more appearances under his belt if he didn’t suffer some injuries problems this season, but you’d still say based on his form when he has been fit, you wouldn’t rank him above the Reds midfield trio this season.
However who knows maybe there will be less eyebrows raised about Schwarzer questionable choice if Keita wows against Chelsea.
