You could argue that Alberto Moreno is the most unpopular Liverpool player this year, and has become the scapegoat of the season. Twitter explodes like a volcanic eruption after every match lost, drawn, or even won. The Spaniard, who arrived in the summer of the 15/16 season from Sevilla has been consistently criticised for his “inability” to defend.
He’s been criticised for leaving acres of space behind him when he bursts forward and joins the attack, but he has never received an ounce of praise the other parts of the work he’s done.
Let’s look at a few league stats on both the defensive and offensive end of the pitch.
CHANCES CREATED PER 90
Alberto Moreno – 2.15
Nathaniel Clyne – 0.73
Aleksandar Kolarov – 1.5
Nacho Monreal – 0.77
Danny Rose – 1.01
ASSISTS PER 90
Alberto Moreno – 0.14
Nathaniel Clyne – 0
Aleksandar Kolarov – 0.12
Nacho Monreal – 0.08
Danny Rose – 0.12
KEY PASSES PER 90
Alberto Moreno – 2.01
Nathaniel Clyne – 0.73
Aleksandar Kolarov – 1.38
Nacho Monreal – 0.69
Danny Rose – 0.89
TACKLES WON PER 90
Alberto Moreno – 2.43
Nathaniel Clyne – 1.58
Aleksandar Kolarov – 0.99
Nacho Monreal – 1.58
Danny Rose – 2.37
BLOCKS PER 90
Alberto Moreno – 0.18
Nathaniel Clyne – 0.24
Aleksandar Kolarov – 0.32
Nacho Monreal – 0.30
Danny Rose – 0.47
CLEARANCES PER 90
Alberto Moreno – 2.22
Nathaniel Clyne – 2.09
Aleksandar Kolarov – 3.85
Nacho Monreal – 3.71
Danny Rose – 3.85
DEFENSIVE ERRORS PER 90
Alberto Moreno – 0.07
Nathaniel Clyne – 0.03
Aleksandar Kolarov – 0.04
Nacho Monreal – 0.06
Danny Rose – 0.04
(I added Nathaniel Clyne to compare his counterpart, so please don’t think I’m an idiot for adding a RB)
At the offensive end, Alberto Moreno is one of the best full-backs in the league. Defensively, he’s not the worst in the world. And by the way, he has zero goals conceded from defensive errors, but so has the other four players above. Sure, you could argue that his tackles are highest among the five because he’s often had to track back and tackle, and I completely agree.
But Klopp’s system has always required his full-backs to join the attack, and I’m 100% sure of this after my expert research on YouTube. But seriously, even while he was at Borussia Dortmund, Schmelzer, Piszczek, and Durm had always played a role high up the pitch. Even now under Thomas Tuchel.
Brendan Rodgers’ system called for the same thing, especially in the 2015/16 season where his focal point of defense were three centre-backs, and Moreno played the role as a wing-back.
The Dortmund full-backs have probably never been on the receiving end of the criticism Moreno does. Why?
Mats Hummels, Nuri Sahin, and Sven Bender. That’s why. These players are at the top of their game, and they cover their full-backs when they go forward.
We have Emre Can, Joe Allen, James Milner, and Jordan Henderson. These are not defensive midfielders, if you don’t already know. They’re makeshift DMs. All of them run like cheetahs and join Sturridge & Co., and when someone else loses possession, it’s Moreno’s fault because he’s high up the pitch.
When Sakho is beside Moreno, we often have a good game. There’s an understanding between them and in result, he’s covered most of the time, and during this period, Alberto’s critics have gone hiding and changed their costume into Moreno fanatics.
Sure, we can go buy a full-back who defends primarily, say Jonas Hector, which is what we’re all craving for and sell Moreno. But why do we have to sacrifice the attacking part of our system when we can instead buy a player who just sits back, and allows Emre Can and Moreno do the offensive work? Defence covered, and the offence for full-backs is existent. That will not only remove the space Moreno leaves, but also encourages Clyne to join the attack more often. His offensive stats look appalling.
It’s Moreno’s decision making that kills him (when to go forward). 1st goal v sevilla out of position tries to make up ground dives in gets megged goal, minutes later gets drawn to the ball from a throw and leaves Gamiero open should have scored( school boy stuff) 3rd goal out of position sprints back into area to mark close down fresh air.
Opposition players in the area are invisible to him. Understand how he gets exposed sometimes through lack of cover but if your primary job is defending, plase learn how to do it. well.
Dont get the obsession with wing backs, Leicester don’t have them, just hard working team without the ball. all 11 players.
Until Moreno learns and eventually masters the art of hoofing the ball at every given opportunity, he will never become a great defender, like the so-called Anfield legend, Jamie Hoofer Carragher.
Great news Jonas Hector is signing.
In the end its not about one player but the defence as a whole (except Clyne)! Mignolet, Moreno and any of our CB partnerships have been inconsistent defensively over the last 3 years! Until we start doing more clean sheets in games we won’t win anything or finish in the top 4! Can’t expect to out score teams in every game!
19 points dropped from winning positions??? The Europa League final lost after going ahead???
New keeper, LB and CBs needed!2 out of the 4 so far with Hector possibly signing as well! Doesn’t that show Klopp has had enough with the defences failings last season???
The stats don’t say everything about his defensive abilities. It’s in what he doesn’t do and not what he does. He’s just a poor defender and, regardless of how good offensively he might be, we can’t have a full back who can’t defend.