Depending on who you believe, or perhaps the colour shirt you wear, Holland international Dirk Kuyt is either one of the most under-rated players in the Premier League or a poor forward who was converted into a hard-working right-midfielder to fill a hole in the Liverpool starting XI.
Certainly a player who was a permanent fixture in a Holland side that navigated their way to the World Cup Final this summer must be doing something right. Unfortunately Kuyt’s disciplined and regulated approach along the touchline has failed to capture the imagination of Reds fans during his time at the club. While his hard labour doesn’t go unnoticed, many fans would prefer to see a more natural option on the right-side of the Liverpool midfield.
Offensive wingers were all the rage when Liverpool last won the league title in 1989-90. A 26-year-old John Barnes scored an astonishing 22-league goals from midfield as The Reds secured their joint-record 18th league title. Since then, the club’s affiliation with flying wingers, much like its rate of collecting trophies, has severely diminished.
Attacking wingers were synonymous with the success of LFC throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s. Jamaican-born Barnes was among the best of them, terrifying defenders in a sea of red with his electric acceleration, dazzling skills and mazy runs.
Under Benitez however it was his side’s chronic lack of width which came to symbolise the Spaniard’s failure to deliver a side capable of unlocking the league’s most stubborn defences. Particularly during the 2008-09 season when 11 draws ended the club’s slim title chances. Benitez’s persistence in continuing to play Dutchman Kuyt on the right-wing after his arrival in 2006 was systematic of this.
After bagging an impressive 71 goals in 101 appearances for Dutch side Feyenoord, few had predicted Kuyt would spend the next four years chasing lost causes and tracking back on the right-hand side of the Liverpool midfield. Converted from a leading marksman in his native Holland to a makeshift winger with a one-in-four ratio at Anfield, Kuyt had to adapt his game to fit into the Benitez’s side.
Kuyt is clearly not your stereotypical touchline speedster and his lack of pace, guile and creativity can often leave Reds fans frustrated. The 30-year-old’s industry and application along the touchline is unmatched however and this supplements somewhat for what he lacks in inventiveness.
It has been reported Spanish boss Benitez is keen on a reunion with his former charge at the San Siro with Inter Milan. The Italian side have reportedly offered Liverpool £7.5m for the player’s services, with 23-year-old Nigeria striker Victor Obinna moving in the opposite direction as a make-weight in the deal. While Obinna is highly-rated, does Hodgson really want a player deemed not good enough to cut it at Inter? Liverpool would prefer a straight cash deal and an offer of £12m plus for an aging player would be a good piece of business by Roy Hodgson.
The deal is an interesting one for Liverpool’s new manager to consider and it could well be time for the Merseysiders to finally ditch their aging proverbial workhorse. Liverpool are simply not going to win a major honour with a player of Kuyt’s limited quality on the wing. Kuyt is certainly open to the idea of a reunion with Benitez, revealing:
“On Thursday night, during the Europa League game against Trabzonspor, the board of Liverpool informed me officially that they have received a fax from Inter.
“You can call this a luxury situation for me now.”
The former Utrecht player certainly gets his fair share of goals and assists but to start challenging again Liverpool need to change their style of play and address their lack of width and Kuyt should be the first to go.
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