Liverpool defender Glen Johnson had a game to forget against Manchester City.
Following the arrival of Javier Manquillo and Alberto Moreno and the development of Jon Flanagan, many wondered if Glen Johnson would be at Liverpool for much longer.
With a contract that runs out in less than 12 months, and with plenty of young players pushing for a starting-place ahead of him, the England international could be forgiven for thinking his time at Anfield was coming to an end.
For now the 30-year-old remains a starter for Brendan Rodgers’ side, although a thigh injury could now see him spend a spell on the side-lines. But even without that injury his performance against Manchester City may have forced a rethink from Rodgers.
It is fair to say Johnson did not have a good game, making just one tackle, no effective clearances, no effective headed clearances and winning just one interception.
Compared with his fellow defenders Moreno, Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel, Johnson was well off the pace. And he also had the lowest passing accuracy of just 83.33% – more than 7% lower than the new arrival from La Liga.
| Won Tackle | Effective Clearance | Effective Head Clearance | Interception Won | Pass Accuracy | Mins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberto Moreno | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 90.48 | 90 |
| Glen Johnson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 83.33 | 86 |
| Dejan Lovren | 2 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 86.89 | 90 |
| Martin Skrtel | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 89.36 | 90 |
Johnson’s experience could still prove important to Liverpool this season; but the Reds’ summer business suggests a contract renewal will not be forthcoming.
When everyone is fit and available once more, it could be the 3-1 defeat to City that ended Johnson’s slim hopes of being a regular starter in what could well be his final campaign at Anfield.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
