Georginio Wijnaldum has been with Liverpool for four years and has enjoyed great success on Merseyside, lifting the Champions League, Fifa Club World Cup and almost certainly the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are runaway leaders with a 25-point lead at the top of the table with nine matches remaining. But the Netherlands international hasn’t always enjoyed Premier League success, as his debut campaign with Newcastle United, having transferred from PSV Eindhoven, ended in relegation. However, the player himself admits he has developed under Klopp.
What did he say?
Speaking to UEFA, via Liverpool FC, the Liverpool midfielder said: “My development since I came to Liverpool has been good – I’ve become more of an all-round player.
“I was used to playing in a very attacking role and only in attack. Since the World Cup with [Louis] van Gaal, I’ve had a more controlling role in midfield, and that went well. After that, I didn’t play that role again, at PSV or Newcastle.”
Wijnaldum added: “When I spoke with Klopp, he saw me in a more defensive role, where I needed to be an all-rounder. It’s not always easy, as I’m used to attacking, but it has helped in my development. I’m a more complete player now than I was when I arrived.
Premier League development
The 61-cap Netherlands international arrived at St James’ Park for £18m in 2015/16 and spent just one season with Newcastle. He was the Magpies’ top-scorer on 11 goals as they were relegated from the Premier League for the second time under Mike Ashley. Despite the troubling league position, Klopp saw enough promise to sign the Netherlands international for £25m.
The German manager may have pushed the ex-Magpies attacking midfielder back to a more defensive role but the Dutchman has still gone on to make 177 Liverpool appearances in four seasons since arriving at Anfield. During that period the former winger has had a hand in 34 goals, scoring 18 of those and assisting 16, showing he has not lost his touch for goal while developing the defensive side of his game. The 29-year-old is also immaculate in possession 90.9 per cent pass accuracy for Klopp’s side, the highest of anyone in the squad to have started a Premier League match. Retaining the ball so effectively in the Anfield engine room has been a major part of his development jumping from 84.8 per cent with Newcastle.
Having operated in a more advance role in his native Netherlands, Wijnaldum has gone on to flourish in the engine room and become a crucial cog in midfield for the European champions. His development on Merseyside cannot be disputed, and the industrious midfielder will be hoping to add to his list of silverware when the league esumes and Liverpool continue their charge to end a 30-year wait to lift the Premier League title.
