Liverpool must jump ahead of Arsenal in Casillas queue
Published:
Like the impatient commuter on the rush-hour platform, Liverpool must barge their way past Arsenal to land Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas in January.
Whether you’re a fan of Wojciech Szczesny’s bold and sometimes reckless approach in the Arsenal onion bag, the Polish stopper is still streaks ahead of Liverpool’s bungling Belgian Simon Mignolet.
And although back-up Emirates stopper David Ospina is nursing a long-term thigh injury, when the cat-like Colombian number one returns to full-heath, he’ll provide ample competition for Szczesny.
However, Liverpool’s deputy and former Middlesbrough keeper Brad Jones is not in the same bracket.
The Australian is sometimes rolled out for the Capital One Cup, though the view that he is not up to Premier League scratch is a unanimous one.
Casillas may not have reams of seasons ahead of him at 33, but the World Cup and double European Championship winner will still be a far more commanding figure between the posts than Mignolet.
While the Belgian cannot be made a scapegoat for Liverpool’s collective failings – which see them backpedalling way down in 12th and on the drift at 10/3 just to make the top four – he’s certainly more culpable than most.
Handling errors are way to commonplace, with the latest calamity costing the Reds the opening goal during their vital Champions League clash against Ludogorets.
Like the rest of the defence in front of him, the £10m stopper’s game seems to have unravelled at the seams this season and a club of Liverpool’s stature cannot dally in replacing him.
Casillas’ arrival would give everyone at Anfield the required lift and the with his vast experience and treasure trove of medals to make Sir Steven Redgrave blush, he could be just the respected figure Liverpool need to take control of an extremely shaky defence.
At the very least he may be able to claim a cross from a set piece.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £100 in free bets.
