Have Liverpool successfully replaced Jamie Carragher ?

Jamie Carragher

In a recent post for The Metro, Liverpool writer EmpireOfTheKop argued that Brendan Rodgers should consider a shock move to persuade Anfield icon Jamie Carragher out of retirement to assist in an unexpected title charge.

Whilst it is a fundamentally absurd notion, with the Bootle-born centre-back likely far from match fitness following months out of the game, it does raise the issue of Liverpool’s shaky defence in recent weeks.

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The signings of Tiago Ilori and Kolo Toure were designed to bolster the ranks following Carragher’s exit, whilst the £15m signing of Mamadou Sakho was described by Ian Ayre as a significant “marquee” acquisition, as per the Liverpool Echo.

However, a recent injury layoff to Sakho, Ilori’s loan move to Granada (BBC Sport), and a pair of calamitous performances by Toure of late have set many Reds fans at panic stations.

Qualities

EmpireOfTheKop proffers that Liverpool are missing Carragher’s “organisational skills”, a quality which would perhaps atone for the league high defensive errors total of 31, as maintained by Squawka.

Elsewhere, it can be argued that Carragher’s main qualities were as a ruthless tackler, an arguably peerless reader of the game, and an inspiring influence to the entire team.

It is also important to note that on his reinstatement at the heart of the Liverpool defence last season, Carragher boasted a pass success rate of 92 percent – again, courtesy of Squawka. This was a feat only bettered by Conor Coady, achieving 100 percent in a 2-minute cameo.

For the purposes of this article, I will assess each of these qualities (tackling, passing, tactical awareness, and organisational skills & influence) in turn in relation to current members of the Liverpool defence.

Therefore with these qualities in mind, have Liverpool successfully replace Jamie Carragher?

Tackling

Tackling is perhaps one of the areas that proved an indicator of age in Carragher’s final season, with the Englishman struggling to compensate for a growing lack of pace. This isn’t to say that this wasn’t a hugely important part of his game as a younger man. Nevertheless, in his final season according to Squawka, Carragher averaged 49 percent of duels won. Furthermore, the centre-back successfully completed only 48 percent of tackles attempted, committing an alarming 20 fouls in the process.

Comparatively, so far this season Sakho averages 62 percent of duels won, 69 percent of tackles attempted, and has only committed 14 fouls. Elsewhere, whilst Martin Skrtel has committed perhaps a rash sum of 26 fouls this season, the Slovak has won an average of 67 percent of his headed duels. Together, this pair outshines the limited physicality of Carragher’s final season.

Passing

Carragher’s previously mentioned final-season pass completion percentage of 92% would surely have appeased Rodgers as a manager who preaches playing out from the back.

Luckily, this is a facet of Skrtel’s game that has seemingly improved this season. Again, from Squawka, Skrtel and Sakho boast a 91 and 92 percent average pass completion respectively so far this season.

Rodgers, as reported by Sky Sports, recently attributed Skrtel’s rejuvenation to a new-found composure on the ball:

“Now, you see a player with great intelligence in his defence, his use of the ball is composed and he has taken on a real leadership role.”

Skrtel, playing in Carragher’s vacated right-sided role in the centre of defence, has truly stepped up given the opportunity this season, and his on-ball technique is one of the most important factors in this change.

Tactical Awareness

The following video, courtesy of LFC Tiki Taka, displays the performance of Sakho in October’s 3-1 win at home to Crystal Palace.

Whilst far from a perfect performance – a near-fatal sliced clearance attesting to that – this video proves Sakho as tactically imperious.

The Frenchman possesses an intrinsic knowledge of when to stand up to a defender and when to dive in for the ball, qualities which Carragher grafted throughout his career.

However, as Alvaro Negredo’s farcical goal in December’s 2-1 loss at Manchester City proves, playing a high line and breaking up attacks with aggression requires a near telepathic understanding between a centre-back pairing.

This is something that Sakho and Skrtel, if they are to be Liverpool’s long-standing defensive pairing, will need to work on; discrepancies between the Frenchman and the Slovak allowed the City striker an abundance of space with which to finish off the game.

Organisational Skills & Influence

Working hand in hand with his organisational skills at the heart of defence, Carragher’s influence upon the defence and the team as a whole was incredibly important.

Following his signing on a free transfer in August of last year, Brendan Rodgers attributed Kolo Toure with mental qualities capable of replacing Carragher, as per BBC Sport:

“He is certainly a character and offers great leadership on the field, which is primarily what we got with Carra,”

Toure has, at times, exhibited this influence. However, recently his performances have waned. More apt to compensate for the loss of Carragher is the evergreen Steven Gerrard. After moving deeper on the pitch towards the CDM role, Gerrard’s determination between the defensive pair has proved an inspiration. This isn’t restricted to the defence however, and his redemptive penalty in the recent 3-2 comeback win at Fulham proves this.

The Verdict

Naturally, it will be difficult to replace the rare abilities of Jamie Carragher with one individual.

However, with the acquisition of Mamadou Sakho, the rise of Martin Skrtel, and the repositioning of Steven Gerrard, it could be argued that this replacement has come as a sum of many parts. Unfortunately at this juncture, we are yet to see the trio combined within a defensive capacity; Gerrard’s move into the central defensive role came into action following the injury to Sakho.

Future prospects, however, remain encouraging. Skrtel’s new found composure and ability to weigh in with important goals (unfortunately, at both ends) puts paid to any perceived loss of the physical abilities of Carragher this season.

Elsewhere the phenomenal ability of Mamadou Sakho to aggressively read the game and break up attacks suggests that the imposing presence of our old number 23 is safe in Gallic hands. Lastly, Gerrard’s dedication in the pivot between the centre-back pairing will be immeasurably important in compensating for the influence of Carragher at least for the rest of the season.

Whilst long may we dream of a team of Carraghers, there is much cause for optimism when it comes to his replacement.