Liverpool could now bring back Gini Wijnaldum as the 21-year-old sensation perfectly fits in Klopp’s play

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Moises Caicedo

Klopp’s men have been miserable without midfield compactness and energy. Is Moises Caicedo the answer to Liverpool’s qualms?

Moises Caicedo Analysis

Moises Caicedo is a player with incredible box-to-box mobility who prioritizes the defensive side of the game over any attacking brilliance he displays going the other way.

To put the role in context, other notable ‘Shuttlers’ include N’Golo Kanté, Idrissa Gueye, Kouadio Koné, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and (drumroll) Gini Wijnaldum. What all of these players have in common is a never-ending desire to cover ground and drive forward with the ball to contribute to attacks, even if their role will always be more defensive.

He excels at covering ground across the pitch, especially up and down the left-half-spaces, as well as shifting wide to break up play in transition. He protects the high position of a wing-back as well. Additionally, he’s an exceptional tackler and fierce competitor. On top of that, he has a monstrous mentality in both the offensive and defensive phases.

Style of Play

Despite being the more defensively-minded midfielder in the Brighton lineup, Caicedo is always found attacking the ball. His driving mobility on and off the ball gives Brighton a constant sense of energy down the left wing. Where he can frequently link up with his compatriot Pervis Estupián and the vivacious Leandro Trossard.

The Ecuadorian loves to get on the ball and drive forward. Also, he never shies away from breaking lines thanks to his strong carrying ability. Caicedo continues to hold his own in line-splitting passes, benefiting from the strong running in behind his left-sided teammates.

Caicedo’s exceptional long-passing within Brighton’s system is what distinguishes him from the other players we mentioned. Under Graham Potter, the Seagulls frequently used long passes across the field to switch play, break lines, or set one of their ‘Channel Runners’ away.

Caicedo never looked uncertain when pulling off these moves. His long passing has an accuracy of 81.6%, which is more than (66.4%) Mac Allister’s.

Defensive Contribution

Caicedo shines as a tough-tackling defensive disrupter when he is not in possession. He excels at quickly regaining position during defensive transitions. Additionally, he is frequently responsible for maintaining rank and breaking up play in response to advanced teammates.

The 21-year-old is critical to the process of helping to screen opposing strikers by maintaining compactness. He is also adept at the front of the defensive line. His ability to limit the amount of depth to play through the lines is the cherry on top of the cake.

Verdict

Moisés Caicedo at 21, has already established himself as one of Europe’s top midfielders. Caicedo never stops roaming and running. Thanks to his magnificent engine that allows him to go up and down the pitch at will. He does an excellent job of covering half-spaces for out-of-position teammates.

He also provides the necessary screen in front of the back-line. Caicedo is developing into an all-around midfielder capable of competing with the best in the business. All of Europe’s elite clubs are keeping an eye on the Ecuadorian. But we hope he turns up at Liverpool

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