Reported Liverpool transfer target Adrien Rabiot cost France a goal in their win over Denmark at the World Cup today.
That’s the view of former Reds midfielder Graeme Souness. Speaking during ITV’s coverage of the game on Saturday, the pundit was highly critical of Rabiot’s efforts for Andreas Christensen’s equaliser.
“Classic ball watching from Rabiot on two occasions,” fumed Souness. “He’s cost his team a goal there and he’s got away with it.”
If Liverpool are keeping an eye on the 27-year-old’s displays in Qatar, they won’t have been impressed here. Firstly, Rabiot didn’t track his runner, leading to a corner for Denmark. Then, the Juventus midfielder failed to challenge Christensen, who headed into the net.
Rabiot fails to impress potential suitors
Many Liverpool supporters won’t have been particulatly enthused to see links with Rabiot cropping up again.
Nevertheless, they have. Reports from earlier in the week put the Reds as trying to sign the Juve man in the January transfer window.
The player himself then confirmed that he may be looking to change clubs in the near future.
It’s clear that Rabiot has his qualities, he wouldn’t be playing at the top of the world game if he didn’t. But regardless of the positives he brings, he also has a tendency to bring a fair few negatives.
Occasionally, these negatives take shape with his off-the-field actions. But more pertinently, he has plenty of these suspect moments in his game, too.
From watching him here, he looks the very opposite of a Jurgen Klopp midfielder. Not tracking runners and no effort in the tackle? No, thank you.
Then again, it’s probably unfair to judge Rabiot from one period of play. He was very good mid-week against Australia and also played the 90 minutes tonight.
It still feels highly unlikely that he’ll end up at Anfield in the coming months. If he does though, don’t expect Souness to forget this anytime soon!
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