The Hard Tackle takes a look at three of the best Liverpool players on the pitch in the current Premier League campaign thus far
Liverpool are a resurgent side under Jurgen Klopp. The German has instilled great spirit within the dressing room, which is evident from their on-pitch exploits. The Reds have been on fire, especially on the attacking front with the opposition unable to cope with the intensity of their play.
So it doesn’t come as a surprise as we pick no defenders in the three best players for the Reds in the present campaign thus far. Let us take a look as to who has made the list.
3. Philippe Coutinho ( Whoscored rating 7.85 )
The prodigious Brazilian arrived in England with bags of potential and has now turned into one of the mega stars in not just the English Premier League, but the whole continent. The 24-year-old has been in truly wondrous form for the Reds this season.
And while Roberto Firmino has contributed more and has a better return, it is the impact that sees Coutinho edge his compatriot. The Brazilian started the season with a bang, as his brace helped Liverpool overcome Arsenal in a high scoring encounter.
Coutinho has produced some very key moments, some of which have facilitated Liverpool’s current place on the table. Count in an assist to Dejan Lovren to open the scoring at Stamford Bridge, a game the Reds won 2-1 and two assists in a 4-2 win over Crystal Palace and the 24-year-old has been in resounding form.
Also, his return of 5 goals and 5 assists in the Premier League make for only decent reading. But given the fact that he has only featured in 13 games up until now, then the statistics seem impressive. And in Coutinho’s absence, Liverpool have struggled in recent times.
Coutinho has been linked to Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain and it looks like a move may be on the cards, especially to Barcelona, a club he has praised often.
For now though, He is back now ahead of a crucial tie against Manchester United and it will be interesting to see if the big-game pedigree shines at Old Trafford as well.
2. Sadio Mane ( Whoscored rating 7.57 )
The Senegalese speedster arrived at Anfield before the start of this season after setting the Premier League alight with Southampton. And he seems to have taken it up a notch at his new club. A goal on his league debut saw Liverpool edge Arsenal 4-3 and the 24-year-old hasn’t looked back since.
9 goals and 4 assists in 19 Premier League matches go a long way in describing the player’s menacing form and predatory instincts. And the player, who already entered the good books of the Kop with his performances, has now become a fan-favourite, thanks to his stoppage-time winner in the Merseyside derby at Goodison.
Mane’s absence has been telling. Liverpool have failed to score on all 3 occasions when Mane has not featured, something which highlights the Senegalese international’s significance at Anfield. And now with the forward away at African Cup of Nations, Liverpool are yet to register a win since his departure.
Liverpool fans would hope Mane returns to Anfield as soon as possible. Because, with 6 teams in the running for the title, the Reds face the prospect of falling behind others.
1. Adam Lallana ( whoscored rating 7.27 )
Adam Lallana, another one of the Southampton imports, who has established himself as one of the key men not only in the Liverpool setup but also for the Three Lions as well. What a year 2016 has been for the 28-year-old, and the 2016-17 season has seen Lallana be the beast he was touted to be.
7 goals and 7 assists from 18 Premier League appearances from a withdrawn position in the midfield three epitomises the free-flowing attacking intensity of the Reds. Lallana, just like his aforementioned teammates, scored in the 4-3 win in the season-opener against Arsenal.
But the highlight will surely be the player’s impact in the 3-0 win over Middlesbrough, in the absence of Phillipe Coutinho. Lallana scored and assisted another, which means he had a hand in each of Liverpool’s goals, something which alleviated the fears of Liverpool’s capability to cope with Coutinho’s injury layoff.
The player is being chased by a host of top European clubs, with Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain all linked with the 28-year-old. And given his technical prowess, saying that the player will slot straight into the lineup of all these clubs will not be too much of an overstatement.
Other notable names include the likes of Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson and James Milner, but the three in the list here edged them based on consistency and overall direct impact.
