The Curious Case of Kevin Stewart
By Avery Jones
After a big season in 2015-16, Kevin Stewart could be on his way out at Liverpool. With a lack of first team football, Kevin has a decision to make, his career is at a crossroads.
Just a year ago Kevin Stewart was solidifying himself a place in the Liverpool squad as a reserve holding midfielder. 12 months later and Stewart hasn’t made an appearance since Plymouth Argyle in January due to his squad role. With the likes of Can, Grujić, and Lucas, it seems unlikely that Stewart has much of a future. Turning 24 this September, you’d think that Stewart would want some regular first team football.
It was only in August when Kevin Stewart put Messi in his pocket while leading Liverpool to a 4-0 win over Barcelona. (Complete highlights of that here). If you skip to the 8:10 mark, you can see Stewart at his best. Stewart dispossesses Busquets and slides the ball into Origi for a goal. If you watch the whole video, you can see Stewart has a tendency to be in the right place at the right time. With only 20 Liverpool appearances to his name, Stewart seems to be a surplus at Anfield.
Kevin Stewart Has To Make A Decision
The former Tottenham product signed a new contract just last February of 2016. (Details here). Many thought with a new contract that would mean more play time yet it has been quite the opposite. Having made 15 appearances for the U-23’s, Stewart isn’t even a regular for the reserves. Let’s look at the few options Stewart has for his future after this season.
With summer looming, Kevin Stewart has a big decision to make. Leave Liverpool for first team football, or fight for a place in the squad.
First of all, Stewart can stay until 2020 with that new contract and remain a bit part player. While this seems very unlikely, I also think it’s something Stewart will consider. Klopp seems to have an affinity for Stewart, and I can’t blame him. Slapping a ten million pound value on Stewart, scared away some teams in January. With a price tag like that for a player with 9 appearances all season, it shows that Klopp thinks Stewart has a future in Anfield.
Option two, and the most likely. Stewart can sign for a mid-table Premier League team and become a regular starter. The key thing here is the fact that Stewart turns 24 this year. Rather than entering his prime at 24, it’s been quite the opposite for Stewart. As much as he seems to love Liverpool, Stewart can’t be happy with the lack of first-team football. With a number of teams seeming to have an interest in him, it would be shocking to see Stewart at Anfield after this summer.
My prediction is that Stewart will find a new home with one of the new teams. Possibly Brighton or Newcastle. No matter where Kevin goes he will always be a red and one of my favorite players to put on the shirt. His fight and passion for the game is something we can all admire and respect. Best of luck to Kevin no matter where he goes, you will always be a red! YNWA!