Liverpool August squad rankings: Sturridge falls, Mane rises
By Tom Bogert
13. Gini Wijnaldum (no ranking last month)
If someone had told me after three Premier League matches that Wijnaldum would have started all of them, I’d have incredulously dismissed whoever that someone was. Even armed with the knowledge that Klopp is a big fan of Wijnaldum, I just didn’t think his role would be that large.
Of course, that’s what would go on to happen irrespective of my surprise.
The attacking midfielder has largely been asked to play more of a box-to-box style and hasn’t particularly put his stamp on any of the matches he’s played in, but certainly hasn’t been the worst player in the team. The word ‘anonymous’ comes to mind when thinking about his exploits thus far for his new club.
Wijnaldum’s Liverpool career has been fine, decent enough. When not judged on the Sadio-Mane-Scale, it’s really not all that bad. But of the new boys, he’s only outpacing Marko Grujic and Alex Manninger as Ragnar Klavan and Joel Matip have landed well.
When Can recovers from injuries, Wijnaldum may be the first name dropped.
Next: 12. Divock Origi