How Willian can shape up the top-4 battle in the EPL

Interestingly, Liverpool and Tottenham have had a similar summer with both teams facing the fear of exit of their star players last season in Luis Suarez and Bale. Then both went in the market signing a striker each, a young winger, drafted defensive reinforcements and let away the excess players. As it stands, both are pretty much in for Willian, who is set to tilt with him, the top-four battle on either side.

Willian started his career at a tender age of 19 when he joined local side Corinthians where the midfielder scored two goals in his 41 appearances before sealing a move to Shakhtar for a fee of €14 million on a five-year contract. It didn’t take long for the Brazilian to become a household name in Donetsk and soon crept up as a key player for Shakhtar where he netted 20 times in his 140 appearances to go with his high kitty of assists. The Brazilian became a prominent name following his spectacular brace against European Champions Chelsea and led to his rising stakes in the European market, which saw cash-rich Anzhi side pounce on the opportunity to land the highly-rated midfielder in Russia to now on the transfer list.

Liverpool have had a new philosophy in place with the arrival of Brendan Rodgers. He submitted a descriptive 100 page booklet on how he intends to take the club forward and he certainly has in his brief spell, playing a brand of football which is nice to the eye and result oriented.

Rodgers likes to keep most of the ball which has seen Liverpool not attacking much through the centre just half-way up. The players like to move it to the side and then trying to pick a body in the box or cut inside and put in the ball. With Willian boasting of pace and getting goals from wide areas, he seems to be a perfect fit and has makings of an instant hit with support from Suarez, Sturridge and Coutinho.

On the other hand, Tottenham have a similar style of play with two wide-men and their central midfield distributing it wide to string a passes and looking for that opening. Given Soldado’s aerial ability isn’t too good, even Tottenham are looking for someone wide who cannot only put in crosses, but cut inside and score all on his own, an area Lennon has failed to live upto. And with Bale’s future unsure, Willian seems to be the man to save Tottenham, who look a little shallow on depth and get them that much awaited top-4 spot.

Given Willian’s game and his position fits-in the scheme of things in either city, matching the playing style of the two and a perfect fit to fill in the void suitability to either team. Given the exciting midfielder seems to be the missing jigsaw in the puzzle of either side, the Brazilian is sure to give direction to the top-four spot with the wind all to him.

Arsenal too would be in the fray, but afraid, if the North Londoners continue with their stubborn attitude and put in silly bids like the have been putting in for all the players they missed so far and now Cabaye, not learning from their earlier mistakes, it certainly seems a two-way battle between Liverpool and Tottenham with Willian having the advantage to the top-4 spot.

Latest reports earlier claimed of Liverpool in the driver’s seat for the midfielder’s acquisition to now Tottenham enjoying better odds. But rumours have it-the Brazilian is keen on a move to Merseyside and has been vocal of his desire to country-mate Lucas.

Believe it or not, it makes for an exciting week with one man having so much to carry in course of the Premier League.