Jamie Carragher has claimed that Jurgen Klopp would love to have Kevin De Bruyne at Liverpool.
Writing for The Telegraph, Carragher suggested that of all the star-studded City squad, De Bruyne is the one the Liverpool boss would love.
When Jurgen Klopp prepared for games against City over the last five seasons, you can be certain De Bruyne is the player he wishes he had at Anfield,” wrote the former Liverpool defender. “In those seasons where both sides collected over 90 points, De Bruyne was the only difference between Manchester City’s and Liverpool’s starting XI.
“Throughout the period in which Liverpool and City have gone head-to-head, it is the presence of De Bruyne which consistently dragged City across the line when the title race went to the final minute. His ability to pick the right pass at the right moment creating a sense of inevitability City will find a winning goal. Look at his pinpoint ball for Ilkay Gundogen against Aston Villa last May. An assist in the latter stages of a game which ultimately won the Premier League for his club.
“Assessing both teams’ qualities during the Guardiola and Klopp era, it has always been midfield where City have the edge. Liverpool have had nothing like De Bruyne since Gerrard was at his peak.”
Liverpool crying out for De Bruyne 2.0
No qualms here, Carragher is right on the money. De Bruyne has always been the player who you feel could really have swung this battle Liverpool’s way.
It’s a shame really that Liverpool have never truly looked to plug that gap in their squad. Perhaps Thiago Alcantara’s arrival in 2020 was supposed to do that, and to some extent he has.
But Thiago is a different player to De Bruyne. The Spaniard is a maestro, but he isn’t necessarily going to win you the game by himself.
Carragher is right to mention Gerrard, because he could do that. De Bruyne can too.
Klopp would love
That’s a rare thing in football though, especially from midfield. Liverpool shouldn’t beat themselves up too badly about it. They do have match winners of their own, and their midfield helps to bring out the best in those players. It’s just that in De Bruyne, City probably have the league’s outstanding player.
Perhaps Liverpool missed a trick by allowing City to get him for £55m in 2015. The Reds maybe weren’t in a position to match such bids back then, but as a boyhood Reds fan, maybe De Bruyne could’ve been tempted.
It’s no use thinking about really, but it could’ve been a match made in heaven.
There’s no doubt that Klopp would feel the same too, but it won’t happen now. Instead, the Liverpool manager will once again have to find a way to stop De Bruyne this weekend.
