OPINION
Liverpool unsurprisingly had seven players nominated for the Ballon d’Or recently after their year of success.
What may come as a slight surprise is that one of those players was Georginio Wijnaldum after the Reds only lost one game in the Premier League and won the Champions League last season.
The Dutchman had plenty of standout moments at Anfield in that campaign, none better than his brace against Barcelona as his side overturned a three-goal deficit to reach the final and secure their sixth European title.
Wijnaldum has already had his say on games this season and scored the winner against Sheffield United after his side had struggled to unlock the deadlock at Brammall Lane.
After the 4-1 victory over Genk on Wednesday, Stephen Warnock suggested that Jurgen Klopp could utilise Wijnaldum much more if he pushed him further forward so he could add more goals to his game – similar to how Ronald Koeman uses him for Holland.
“I still think Wijnaldum has lots more to offer as an attacking player too,” Warnock told the BBC.
“He has already emerged as one of the mainstays of the Liverpool midfield but he would be far more of a threat if he were given the same freedom he gets when he plays for the Netherlands.”
There have been multiple questions put forward about Liverpool’s midfield, with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson in the heart of the side to defend and not offer much attacking threat.
Wijnaldum would be the exception in those three, but could still be involved in many more goals at Anfield – especially after only scoring three goals and delivering zero assists.
The 28-year-old scored twice for Holland against Belarus in the recent international break and being pushed further forward saw him find lots of space in the final third.
Liverpool could definitely get the best out of Wijnaldum should Klopp take the advice of Warnock on board going forward this season.
