This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Who can stop Liverpool at the moment?
The Reds continue to set the standard at the top of the Premier League, with a 3-0 win at Bournemouth being their latest victory. They still lead the table by eight points, and champions Manchester City, who were expected to be their strongest rivals for the title, are now 14 points adrift after losing to Manchester United.
It was a good day for Liverpool’s midfield, with Naby Keita coming in from the cold to score his first goal of the season. And it wasn’t just in the Premier League that Jurgen Klopp’s men in the middle of the park impressed.
Serbia international Marko Grujic put in a man of the match performance against Eintracht Frankfurt for on-loan side Hertha Berlin. His SofaScore rating of 8.6 was by far the leading number, and he also got himself on the scoresheet for the third time this season.
It was an all-action display from the 23-year-old. Going forward, he was a menace, with him having two shots at goal whilst also completing both of the dribbles he attempted. Not only that, he also managed one key pass, as well.
It was in the opposite direction, though, where he showed his true worth. During the 90 minutes, he made six clearances, one interception and two tackles, whilst he also blocked one shot. Not only that, he won nine of the 13 duels he contested, with him being particularly dominant in the air – he prevailed in five of the six duels that took place off the ground.
The club’s supporters have been calling for the £18m-valued former Red Star Belgrade midfielder – as per Transfermarkt – to be given a chance at Anfield, and with each passing week those calls should be getting louder and louder. The Bundesliga outfit are struggling so far this campaign – they currently lie in 15th place in the table – but Grujic is one of the players who has impressed the most to date. With a 6.96 average WhoScored rating, he is Die Alte Dame’s second-best performing player in the league this term.
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At some point, the midfielder’s noise from afar will have to make Klopp stand up and listen. Just think what he could achieve in a better side.
In other news, Liverpool fans react to the latest Club World Cup announcement.
