It’s time Liverpool drop Glen Johnson and bring in Alberto Moreno again.
There is obviously no quick fix for sorting out Liverpool’s dismal defence, but playing players in their natural positions would help.
And by this token there is one player who needs to be axed, Glen Johnson.
The former England international has been playing at left-back over the last two games, during which the team have conceded five goals to Crystal Palace and Ludogorets Razgrad.
Bringing in Alberto Moreno will not cure their ills, but it will be a step in the right direction.
The £18 million summer signing has had to watch from the sidelines as Johnson fills in for him, with unspectacular results.
| Match | Passing Accuracy | Aerial Duels Won | Won Tackles | Interceptions Won | Touches | Dispossessed | Duels Lost | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glen Johnson | Ludogorets vs Liverpool | 92% | 1 | 1 | 2 | 61 | 1 | 3 | 90 |
Johnson lost three duels and was dispossessed once, with his solitary one tackle won little to shout about.
Moreno’s match at home to the Bulgarians saw him put in a more effective and less error prone showing.
| Match | Passing Accuracy | Aerial Duels Won | Won Tackles | Interceptions Won | Touches | Dispossessed | Duels Lost | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberto Moreno | Liverpool vs Ludogorets | 90% | 0 | 3 | 2 | 68 | 0 | 2 | 90 |
He trebled the number of tackles made by Johnson, and made half the number of negative aspects in his performance as Johnson did on Wednesday night.
Javier Manquillo is performing well at right-back, so for the time being – the best place for England’s number one right-back should be on the bench, and not playing on the left keeping a talented summer signing out of the side.
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