Defence or midfield, which is the question ringing about everyone’s head in Liverpool, especially since the news broke out that Steven Gerrard is to depart Liverpool for the USA. Emre Can has become probably one of the lynchpins for the stunning turnaround that Liverpool have shown in their form with them now being unbeaten in their last 9 games in the Premier League.
The game against Tottenham was another hard fought victory for the club and brought them closer to a top 4 position and Emre Can won rave reviews yet again for his performance. He started off in the defence, the 3 man defence that Liverpool play in and then when Gerrard was substituted, he slotted into perfectly in the role of the skipper and held the Tottenham team at bay. With no guaranteed slots for any players in the starting XI, especially in midfield, the question arises; can Emre Can really fill Gerrard’s shoes?
A lot of promise and the performances show it
Emre Can did come with a bit of a reputation, it isn’t every player that is coveted by Bayern Munich but Emre Can could have been bought by the Bavarian club had they decided to counter Liverpool’s offer but their loss has been Liverpool’s gain. Can did not play as many games as people expected since he was getting acclimatized to the English game but in the second half of the season he has been exceptional, especially playing in a role that isn’t his preferred one.
Emre Can has played in defence for a good chunk of the second half of the season and he probably looks like the best defensive player that Liverpool have. He is strong in the air, has great control, vision and can pass the ball around to start attacks and link up with the midfield but expecting Can to continue playing as a defender should not be the future for the player.
Can has a lot more to his game than his defensive ability, Can can run with the ball and does have close control, there is no denying that he still needs to work on certain aspects of his game like shooting but one thing is for certain, he has been raking in the brilliant performances and slowly but steadily is beginning to shine for the club, probably earlier than expected.
Can is only 21 years old and still has a lot of time to grow, his vision at this young stage is remarkable and he has already carved a place in the heart of the Liverpool fans. He has also won the man of the match award for a couple of games in this run and keeps on getting better, the ease at which he slotted into the midfield role showed just how versatile he is and how he can play in a lot of positions.
Emre Can may not become a Gerrard but in all honesty, no player can ever replace Gerrard for all the work he has done for the club, instead Can should be looking to create his own identity and that is exactly what he has started to do in this little spell he has had in the first team at Liverpool. Can he become a legend at Liverpool? Yes, he can.