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Liverpool answered a number of questions during their impressive performance at Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
But the complete victory eventually sparked a poser who has lingered for some time in the Premier League and world champions.
And it’s one that Jurgen Klopp ideally wouldn’t have to address in the next few months.
How will Liverpool replace Gini Wijnaldum?
Of course, it is not 100% guaranteed that the Dutchman will practice his trade elsewhere next season.
However, realistically, Reds fans are increasingly resigned to Wijnaldum leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Not that there is any grudge in the direction of the amiable midfielder, whose £ 25 million arrival from Newcastle United in the summer of 2016 ranks alongside the most astute sacks of the Klopp era.
Wijnaldum will depart with everyone’s best wishes for having played such an important role in helping Liverpool claim a sixth European Cup and end a 30-year wait to be crowned English champions.
Barcelona has long been considered the final destination of the Dutch international, especially since his former national team coach Ronald Koeman is, for the moment at least, in charge at the Camp Nou.
Few would envy the 30-year-old’s latest adventure given his immense contribution to recent Anfield history.
And it’s not over yet.
Witness his performance in North London when asked to moderate his natural game by retiring to a defensive midfield role with Fabinho injured and Jordan Henderson back in central defense.
Wijnaldum delivered. Selfless yet superb, while giving Thiago Alcantara more room to thrive, he was a prime example of why Klopp has continually placed so much faith in such a smart, hard-working and skilled player. Liverpool’s difficult defensive injury situation means that they may be asked to reprise the role for the next few weeks.
Critics of Wijnaldum point to his goal return for the Netherlands and ask why he cannot produce at such a level with Liverpool.
That, however, is spectacularly missing the point. He doesn’t do that with Klopp because he’s not asked. Instead, it does the job for which it is detailed, either protecting the defense or, as is more usual, as one of the unbroken cogs a little higher up that provide the physicality and pacing this Reds harvest demands. .
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Wijnaldum also had the added quality that he was rarely injured.
In the 212 games Liverpool have played in the Premier League and Champions League since their arrival, they haven’t appeared in just nine teams on the day.
And only five times during that period has he failed at least to get out of the bank.
Given the availability issues that have hampered Liverpool this season, that durability is worth millions. After all, a player is of no use unless they are available for selection.
Oh, and then there’s his happy ability to deliver on the bigger stage, from scoring in the Champions League semi-finals, three in four appearances, to key Premier League goals against Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham.
Wijnaldum will have an important role to play during the second half of the season with Liverpool still on the hunt for the title and chasing a third Champions League final in four years.
No one can doubt his commitment to Liverpool. However, it is not so clear where the Reds will go after their increasingly likely summer departure.
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