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What next for Suso? Having impressed so far during his loan spell at struggling La Liga side Almeria, Suso will be expecting a first team spot when he returns to Liverpool in the summer. But where will he fit in? I will take a look at the possible positions Suso could fill and the potential barriers in his way.
After breaking into the Liverpool side at the start of last season during an injury crisis, Suso was immediately heralded as ‘The next big thing’. The tricky Spaniard came into the side at the same time as Raheem Sterling, who is now a prominent member of the first team. After the signing of Phillipe Coutinho in January, Suso found his first team opportunities limited and eventually left to join struggling Spanish side Almeria in the summer.
Suso is a player who can play the ‘Number 10’ role that Rodgers loves to employ, but is equally adept on the right hand side of an attacking trio or quartet, which is where he has been positioned this year in La Liga.
Having seen Suso play a number of times this season, he looks very settled and at home in the Almeria side. He has scored 2 and assisted 7 in his 24 league appearances, putting him very high up in the La Liga assists chart. He also has a decent pass completion percentage which will impress Brendan Rodgers.
“Suso makes things happen, he is tactically very good and strong technically with the ball. I love that type of player” said Rodgers last season.
“He knows he still has a lot to learn but he’s a good kid. He has got a really good appetite for the game. He is on the same page in terms of the tactical idea for the team. If his fight matches his talent then we will have a very good player.”
Whilst I, and many people affiliated with Liverpool Football Club, have been impressed with the midfielder’s progression this season he will face a battle for a first team spot when he returns to Anfield in the summer.
Since leaving Anfield on loan, Liverpool completed the signing of Suso’s Spanish compatriot, Luis Alberto. Whilst Alberto has yet to nail down a first team spot, Rodgers will surely keep the midfielder at the club for another year or so before deciding to let him go on loan or leave the club completely.
Alberto is obviously talented and has impressed in the few outings he has had this season. It is open to debate whether or not he is as good as Suso, but it is undeniable that he could potentially go on to have a long Liverpool FC career.
The recent emergence of young Portuguese starlet Joao Teixeira will also worry Suso. Whilst Teixeira is inexperienced and nowhere near a regular starting berth for the first team, he is progressing well and anyone would be a fool to rule out a regular position for him in the side in the future. Rodgers obviously rates the youngster, and he also shares a lot of attributes with Suso, pitting them against each other perfectly
Add to the equation the mercurial Coutinho and you have right there a problem for Suso. He has stated before that he ‘Hopes to come back stronger’ as a result of his loan spell in Spain, but whether this strength will be needed is an issue the youngster needs to address. His talent is undoubted, but with Rodgers likely to look for more strength in the attacking positions this summer, Suso’s future could well be up in the air.
From a brief discussion with other Liverpool fans earlier, it seems many put him ahead of Alberto and Teixeira ability wise, yet behind Coutinho. This would suggest that many would prefer to see Suso stay at the club as backup for the little magician if his form dips or he suffers an injury, which I think would be the most likely position Suso would fill upon returning.
There is also the option of him playing in a wide position, but with the form of Sterling and a potential new signing in that position, I doubt Suso would get a look in. However, there is no doubt in my mind that Suso can be as effective in that Number 10 role as Coutinho currently is.
A lot of people tend to forget that he is just 20 years old. Due to the form of Sterling, many believe more has to be expected of Suso. I tend to disagree. I remember the days when players were not introduced as a regular first team player until the age of 21, and this may be the route Liverpool take with Suso. Jon Flanagan seems to have benefited from a brief spell away from the first team after making his debut at a young age, and I think it has made him even hungrier to succeed. Hopefully the same can be said for the Spaniard upon his return to Melwood.
Pre season will be key for Suso to stamp his authority on the first team. He needs to prove to Rodgers that he is better than the likes of Alberto and Teixeira and is worthy of that spot in the side. Suso is a brilliant player to watch. The kind of player Spain has been producing for years now, an attacking midfielder who is gifted on the ball and with the ability to spot a pass, a lot like Andres Iniesta or David Silva.
Now, don’t go slaughtering me for comparing the young lad to Iniesta and Silva, he definitely has a lot of similar attributes and even though he may not hit the heights Iniesta did at Barcelona or Silva has done so far at Manchester City, he can definitely prove to be a very influential player at Liverpool if he fulfils his potential.
If I were manager (Side note, I never ever ever ever will be) I would send Teixeira out on loan, ideally to a Championship side. I would prefer to keep Alberto although limited first team opportunities may lead to him being played in a deeper position or sent out on loan. Coutinho would then be my starting attacking midfielder with Suso waiting in the wings, ready to pounce on any opportunity to impress.
I for one hope that he is given a chance at Liverpool, and I am sure he will be. Rodgers clearly rates the player and believes he can succeed. Securing a loan spell at a top flight Spanish side has been a big step in his development and I hope he pushes Coutinho for that Number 10 role next season, after all, competition for places is a headache any manager would rather have.
