Jurgen Klopp already has found the new Luka Modric

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has found the next Luka Modric and that can only be good news for the Reds.

Getting the balance of the midfield right has been a tricky task this season. Without the full-backs being as effective in attack as they were last season, Liverpool have looked pedestrian.

That’s because we’re not seeing enough penetration from midfield. Injuries to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita have robbed the side of their two most dynamic players, while it’s taken Thiago longer than expected to get up to speed.

Imagine Liverpool with Luka Modric

Injury and COVID are the clear mitigations in the case of Thiago, but still, the puzzle remains. Klopp needs to figure out a way to get the best out of this engine room moving forward, but he may already have a solution sitting in the squad.

Luka Modric has been one of the best midfielders in the world for the past decade. He’s run the midfield for Real Madrid and Croatia and is still pulling the strings at 35-years-old.

Liverpool have Curtis Jones though

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But someone who could have a similar impact on his team is Curtis Jones, the youngster who has experienced a breakthrough campaign.

According to FB Ref, the way the two men play is highly similar. Let’s start with passing, because that’s what Modric is known for and moving the ball forward with intensity is a key part of how Klopp wants to play the game.

Using stats from this season (2020/2021), we can see that Jones completes more passer per 90 minutes than Modric, attempts more and has passed a greater distance.

However, there’s still clear room for growth. Despite passing less, Modric has made more progressive passes by distance (330m per 90 vs 266). This seems to be as Modric prefers to spray long passes with a greater frequency than Jones, who attempts far more short passes.

This means Modric makes more key passes per game, but not much more. The Croatian is at 1.38 key passes per 90, while Jones is at 0.91 – while Modric passes into the penalty area more.

The two are also close to each other in another area: passes that led to a shot. Modric averages just over two per 90; Jones just under.

However, Jones is a far more robust defender. He makes more tackles per 90, more pressures, more blocks and more clearances.

So while Modric is still a more penetrative passer, Jones is incredibly close to his numbers and does more defensive work. With a bit of patience and development, we may see Klopp’s Modric at Anfield.