Garth Crooks believes Liverpool’s season hinges on keeping Gini Wijnaldum available. The Dutchman has been a rare example of reliability for the Reds.
Garth Crooks named Gini Wijnaldum in his team of the week on Monday. He was the only Liverpool player to make it, infact.
Personally, that seems a little strange – Curtis Jones was the standout player against Sheffield United and played alongside Wijnaldum. Crooks, though, appears to have wanted to make a bigger point.
He believes Wijnaldum is now the key to Liverpool’s entire season.
“Wijnaldum once again seemed to keep it together for Liverpool in the absence of Jordan Henderson,” Crooks wrote.
“Should anything happen to Wijnaldum between now and the end of the season, bearing in mind their injury list, I think Liverpool would implode.”
What RTK has to say
He might be right. There’s little doubt that Liverpool relied on Wijnaldum up to now. For one, he’s the only senior midfielder who can stay fit.
We imagine the plan for the season was Fabinho, Henderson and Thiago as the midfield three. Instead, it’s become ‘Wijnaldum and two others’.
And the Dutchman has played well. We wouldn’t have him down as a Player of the Year candidate – or maybe we would? The field isn’t exactly a strong one.
As for now until the end of the season, Wijnaldum is vital. Henderson’s injury forces that, especially as we expect Fabinho to play in defence.
It means Wijnaldum will be the only midfielder without doubts over him. Thiago is new, Jones is young, James Milner is ageing, and we’re not sure the rest are good enough.
Would Liverpool implode without him? That seems a bit much. But if he were the next to go down, we’re not sure what Jurgen Klopp would do. Wijnaldum has become a very useful puzzle piece as the boss tries to fit teams together.
And in that regard, Liverpool are very lucky to have him.
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