With the news coming through that Liverpool midfield mainstay Jordan Henderson could be set for a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, all eyes are sure almost certain to fall to new-boy Emre Can when the Reds run out against Crystal Palace this weekend.
Following his move from German side Bayer Leverkusen over the summer, the 20-year old has shown that he can be a dominating force in the middle of the park during his short tenure on Merseyside. Although he’s quick to point out his love for the more physical aspect of the game in England, Can has also shown that he’s no slouch in front of the net, bagging his first senior goal for the club with a long range effort against Premier League pace-setters Chelsea.
“In Germany, it’s pass, pass, pass. That makes it easier for the top team because they are usually better at passing. In England the test is different every week. I have realised you need to win the physical challenges before you win the technical challenges” he told Liverpool’s official website in a recent interview. “When a top team plays the bottom team in Germany, the top team usually wins by a good score. But here everything is fought for. If your levels drop in the Premier League, even against the bottom team, you will get punished. But we know if we perform to our maximum we can achieve good results.”
With Daniel Sturridge has suffering yet another set-back on his road to recovery and Henderson expected to miss the trip to Selhurst Park, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers will once again be looking to other players to step up in their absence — something that Can, who recently recovered from an long-standing injury of his own, will be looking to do. “In terms of fitness, I feel close to where I want to be now” he continued. “I want to help the team improve its results.”
