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Of all the many positives to be gleaned from Liverpool’s 7-2 goal over Lincoln City last night, Marko Grujic’s impressive effortless performance in the heart of midfield was one that came out of nowhere.
As enjoyable as it was to see Takumi Minamino and Curtis Jones bag a gorgeous brace each, it wasn’t a huge surprise to see them flourish given the encouraging progress we’ve seen from both players between the end of last season and the move to preseason. It was also great to see Xherdan Shaqiri play again after so long in the shadows, but his sumptuous free kick in the first half was the kind of shot everyone knew very well he had on his locker.
Grujic, by contrast, had not appeared in a competitive game for Liverpool in nearly three years, his last outing as a substitute in a 5-1 win against Brighton & Hove Albion in December 2017. In fact, many assumed a permanent transfer would have taken place at this point in the window, so seeing him thrown straight into the starting lineup here wasn’t highly anticipated, although with Jordan Henderson, James Milner, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain unavailable for various fitness reasons, Jürgen Klopp’s options were more limited than usual.
Which is not to say that we should be surprised at how well Grujic played, albeit with the caveat that he is only a League One opponent. After all, this is a player who has been a regular starter (and often a standout player). for a Bundesliga team in the middle of the table during the last two seasons.
Hertha Berlin are not mugs, and neither is he. That experience has clearly sped his development enormously from the 19-year-old Liverpool bought for £ 5.1 million and loaned directly to the Red Star in January 2016. To be described as “by far the best midfielder I have seen in my time “. at the club “of Pal Dardai, who spent 14 years as Hertha’s coach, is not a minor compliment.
Against Lincoln, Grujic was literally everywhere, touching the ball 110 times, more than any other player, while completing the most passes in the game (87) with an accuracy of more than 90%. Although he probably should have been saved, his second-half goal (his first in a competitive match for Liverpool) from outside the box was totally deserved for the way he helped organize a Liverpool mix and match throughout the game. so consummate.
Whether interrupting play, advancing with possession, or simply distributing the ball with precision and enthusiasm, Grujic did exactly what was required of him in that role of midfield anchor. Had he seen that kind of performance through a crystal ball four years ago, he would have been justified in thinking that Liverpool had great talent on their hands.
And they do. Except, the problem is, he’s only a ninth (or even tenth, if you include Shaqiri) option in the central midfield pecking order in Liverpool right now. If Milner or Oxlade-Chamberlain had been in shape, they would almost certainly have started before him here.
So it seems that Liverpool have evolved far beyond Grujic, which in no way reflects negatively on him. Quite the contrary, in fact, because he is surely capable of doing a very reasonable job for many Europa League level clubs in the major European leagues right now. That’s the level Liverpool were at when they became the first signing of the Klopp era, but competing for a place on possibly the strongest team in world football is an entirely different pot of fish.
Make no mistake, Grujic is a £ 20-25 million footballer now, although it remains to be seen whether any club will actually step up with that amount of money in a COVID-affected transfer market. If not, then it becomes a question of whether he is in favor of another loan or would prefer to stay with Liverpool until January in hopes of more occasional opportunities between now and then, than if injuries persist at center-back and at midfield, are not totally out of the question.
Even if it’s hard to imagine a long-term future for Liverpool, last night served as a timely reminder of the player he has become during his time in Germany, and should draw the attention of any potential suitor considering a move. There is a bright future ahead for Grujic, wherever he is.
What I read on Liverpool.com
Mark and Ollie were on post-game assignments last night, and their two pieces are worth reading.
An article about Jones’ outstanding performance and the homecoming selection dilemma he now poses, and The Podium, showing a lot of love for Minamino.
What i’m hearing
Check out the latest podcast from Liverpool.com (I’m not on it this week though). Available on the Blood Red YouTube channel according to and all other common platforms.
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