Liverpool Defender Explains Poor Form - But How Bad Has He Really Been?

When Jose Enrique was suffered an injury that would keep him out for a lengthy period of time, Liverpool fans were cautious, but they were not too worried. After all, Brendan Rodgers brought in Aly Cissokho on loan from Valencia, and he was rated very highly by some of their fans. A powerful, athletic full-back who loves storming up the pitch - Cissokho, on paper, looked an exciting acquisition. However, his first handful of games couldn't have gone any worse for the Frenchman.

After being injured on his debut, Cissokho came back looking like a sluggish, second-rate player who couldn't even begin to fill the boots of Enrique. Reds' fans quickly saw that his pushing up the pitch could leave them exposed and his concentration levels were poor, but the player himself has now pinpointed the problem of his form.

He has said, via the Mirror, that it was indeed the ankle injury he picked up in the cup that saw him falter. He said: "In my first match against Notts County, after five minutes, my ankle turned. It was a big ankle sprain.

"The most important injury in my whole career so far and at the worst moment. A piece of cartilage moved. I had to undergo surgery in London.

"It was a very difficult moment. I was afraid. Surgery delayed my adaptation."

He also responded to the criticism he has received as a result of his shoddy performances.

"Critics? I am used to not winning unanimous support. I let people have their own opinion and I give my best."

But how bad has he been?

Well, for me his positioning has been woeful. There have been a number of times where he has been caught out, but other aspects of his game have improved slightly over the last few weeks.

He has still won just 46% of his attempted tackles, 42% of his dribbles and has committed a lot of needless fouls, though.

I am still undecided on him, but am leaning towards the 'waste of time' option.

Comments

[stan howard]

This lad has a great future love his style - never hides - always available for a pass - never passes and stands still but moves - links with forwards well - does well in the air - stops crosses - is out of his normal position - we have lost only two games in which he has played and were robbed in both by woeful refereeing.

[stan howard]

A great prospect this lad does not have the fantastic Sterling covering for him - I could play right back with him in front of me.

[John bobbit]

Im with the writer, ally cissokho is a liability who will cost us big if the pressure gets any higher. He makes enrique look world class, which we all know he isnt. To say hes looked anything other than poor shows a lack of understanding of football as a game. Running very fast does not mean your good, cant tackle, woeful technique, poor disrtibution and no idea where he is supposed to be standing. If robbo wasnt out on loan he would be starting ahead of cissokho. Fact.

[Justin]

Cissokho is an awful awful player, Martin Kelly must be really going backwards if he can't get in the team ahead of him (with Flanagan going to left back) and its a real worry that no one else in the reserve or youth set up can step in. Never have I seen a player so lacking in confidence or so utterly incapable of finding a team mate with a pass, not to mention one who can run a ball out of play under seemingly little or no pressure at all. I honestly think this lad is a worse signing than Eric Meijer.

[armchairLFCfan]

Aly Cissokho's performance has been improving and definitely my first choice with the talent pool which LFC has currently.