A Closer Look At How Martin Skrtel Is Thriving At Liverpool This Season

While Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel was supposedly on the brink of a move to Napoli in the summer, the big Slovakia international has been a true credit to his club this season. Few people fancied him as a Brendan Rodgers-type player due to his rough and ready approach to the game, but he has proved to be a giant at the back for the Reds in their bright start to the season.

Skrtel has appeared in nine league games for Liverpool so far, scoring once, and he has won 12/15 of his tackles. He has been hugely involved in the Reds run of success – averaging 13 defensive actions per game in the league – and he has been victorious in 24/38 of his headers.

Not only has he excels in his natural game, but he has also completed an impressive 92% of his passes – the highest tally at the club.

It’s hard to say whether he would have had the same sort of impact if he had joined former boss Rafa Benitez in Serie A, but what I can safely say is that he is thriving under Rodgers at Anfield.

The 28-year-old has seen Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez hog the headlines this season, but there are a lot of people who appreciate the form he is in right now.

stats via Squawka