Liverpool: Emre Can is a better number 6 than Jordan Henderson

The heated debate encompassing Liverpool’s midfielders, Emre Can or Jordan Henderson, who should play in the number 6 position and who should sit out?

Since Henderson’s long lasting foot injury, there have been countless times where Emre has had to take up the number 6 role in his absence. During this shift in personnel and positioning change, Can has barely put a foot out of place.

Attacking stats of Emre and Henderson in the English Premier League:

Henderson’s deal at the moment:

Henderson being the captain needs to lift his game. Passing left to right for majority of the 90 minutes of the match, gives no evidence of quality.

Last season this time Henderson was probably one of the best holding midfielders in the Premier League. He led the rest of the league along with N’Golo Kante in most tackles, interceptions, and passes completed (probably a lot of those passes went left to right).

Unfortunately, this all came to an abrupt end midway through the season when the Reds’ captain sustained an injury and has since struggled to discover the same form since the blemish.

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Who should play and who should stay … on the bench?

In fairness, the team’s performance between the start of the season and now, has been far from impressive. The amount of goals leaked in by Liverpool’s defence is not only the fault of the back line, but that of the holding midfielders as well.

Liverpool’s goals conceded for the season (17), shows nobody deserves their spot over the next. From the goalkeeper to the number 6 slot, all have been inconsistent. However, when thinking flair, quality, and footballing ability, I believe Emre ticks all the boxes over Henderson.

Can dominates in one attribute, where the Liverpool skipper cannot compare to him at all, is Can’s intelligence and skill to carry the ball up field from deeper positions. Instead of passing in a crab like style the entire game, as Henderson does. He ops to rather push up and draw players out of position and free one of the forwards up front.

Defensive stats of Emre and Henderson:

Henderson has and will always play it safe. It must be tough on him when taking Liverpool’s previous captain, Steven Gerrard into consideration. The two are chalk and cheese and makes Henderson’s job 30 times harder than what it actually should be.

The manager Klopp has to agree on playing one or the other and in this case the German has the go for the number 6, quarterback role.

I conclude by stating, Emre Can should be played over Jordan Henderson in the holding midfielder role. The change has to happen till the arrival of Keita, who could be the answer to all the problems the Reds are experiencing.

Liverpool’s league standing on the English Premier League table:

Stats compiled from Squawka.com