Even after marginally missing out on the Premier League trophy to Manchester City last season, Jurgen Klopp had refrained from delving into the transfer market to get his hands on an expensive purchase. However, this season is different as the Kops are being linked with a move for Timo Werner to bolster their attacking options.
Now club legend John Aldridge has stated that Werner and Liverpool are a match made in heaven and that he would go on to prosper under Klopp. His statements to Liverpool Echo read, “From what I have seen of the striker, he would suit the Reds perfectly and offer a valuable option to Jurgen Klopp.
“Don’t get me wrong, he would be brilliant for Chelsea. But under Klopp, he could prosper even further. This is a manager who has helped improve obvious talent such as Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.”
The prolific rise of Werner
In just a few years, the German has made everyone take notice of him with his performances on the field. The 24-year-old has so far scored 74 goals in the Bundesliga in 120 matches for RB Leipzig, and it can be admitted that the team’s success over the years has largely depended on his contributions.
Werner is a man with blistering pace and capable of playing in any positions in the front three, although he is more suited on the left. His eye for goal is what has made him such a dangerous man and the fact that he achieved 3.9 shots per game this season clearly demonstrates that. Although his passing completion rate can improve on 76.6%, his assists tally of 7 is an indication that he has a knack to be there for his teammates at the right time. Overall, Werner has already done wonders, and under Klopp’s tutelage, his overall stats can further improve.
His position at Liverpool
This would be the interesting part as Jurgen Klopp would have to change the dynamics of the entire squad to integrate the Leipzig man. When the opposition teams get a corner against Liverpool, more often than not, they are the ones more in threat than the Kops. It has been seen time and again how Salah and Mane burst into a sprint, catching the opponents completely off-guard when they are still trying to organise from the corner situation.
Werner, in that sense, is undoubtedly a match made in heaven. If there is a list of the top counter-attacking forwards in the world, his name would be there right at the top. Many have even gone on to label him as a one dimensional forward, incompetent to have any impact in a slow build-up play. These critics could also be referring to his average performances for his nation, where he has to be the sole forward leading the line in a different tactical setup.
Currently, the Merseyside club assemble in a 4-3-3 formation with Salah, Mane and Firmino leading the attack. With Werner, this could be reassembled in a 4-2-3-1 with the German at the top and the current front three just behind him. However, Firmino would have to make the most significant sacrifice in this system as Klopp could field someone like Oxlade-Chamberlain in front of the double pivot for the additional defensive cover. Overall, Timo Werner could become one of the biggest transfers in the history of the club, and the board should pursue him with all their vigour.
Stats from Whoscored.
