Don Hutchison has stated that Liverpool’s deadline day signing, Arthur Melo, has been given an ‘unfair label’ that he is a ‘sideways passer’, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
The former Reds midfielder and Euro expert added that Arthur is a ‘very shrewd signing’ from Jurgen Klopp and he is a player that is ‘good on the eye’.
Liverpool didn’t initially intend to bring a midfielder of Arthur’s ilk to the club this summer because they were already stacked in that department.
But within a week remaining of the 2022 summer transfer deadline, they were knocking on Juventus’ door and securing the loan talents of the Brazil star.
Injuries to key players, including Thiago Alcantara, as well as the club’s indifferent start to the new season, forced the club to make that late call to bring Arthur in.
Hutchison shared what type of player Liverpool will be getting and how the player can play multiple roles.
“Impact? I am not sure because he comes with a reputation of not playing too many games on the spin, i.e. fitness,” said Hutchison.
“The player himself is very versatile. He can sit in like a Fabinho. He has got a good range of passing. He can play on the right side or the left side as a number eight.
“He’s not just a crab. He’s not just a sideways passer. I think that’s an unfair label that a lot of people give him. He’s not. He plays a lot of forward passes.
“He’s a good player and he will enhance what Liverpool have got. I think in the short term if they can get him up to speed very quickly, then I think it is a very shrewd signing from Jurgen Klopp – I think it’s a really, really good signing and a player good on the eye.”
ARTHUR TO MAKE LIVERPOOL DEBUT?
Arthur was on the bench for Liverpool’s goalless draw against Everton in the Merseyside derby on Saturday.
Given the player’s late arrival, Klopp opted to leave him on the bench as an unsued substitute, so he will be eagerly- awaiting his Reds debut.
It could come in the Champions League next week when Klopp and his players start off their European adventure against Napoli.
So, just days after leaving Italy, Arthur could be back in the country to showcase to his new fans what he has in his locker.
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