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    Sunday
    Jan132013

    Top10 - Number 1: Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool)

    Liverpool fans know all too well about the talents of Jonjo Shelvey. He has entrenched himself into the Reds midfield under Brendan Rodgers and he continues to flourish as a result. He is a young, tenacious driving force in the middle of the pitch who exudes determination but also a heap of arrogance, something which has helped him develop as a player.

    Shelvey, in my opinion, is one of the most promising young attacking midfielders in the country and it would not surprise me if he was one day given the captain's armband.

    Something that Shelvey has in abundance is passion, and you can tell he cares about the shirt on his back. He combines this with his steely, aggressive outlook and his immensely impressive technical facility which equates to him being a tough opponent for even the strongest, most experienced opponent.

    The fee of around £2m that was paid to Charlton for the player now seems to a somewhat measly one, as he has gone onto to make almost 50 appearances for the club and also won his first England cap as a substitute against San Marino in October 2012.

    The man to replace Steven Gerrard, in my opinion.

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    Sunday
    Jan132013

    Top10 - Number 2: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen)

    Mention Lars Bender and you may be greeted with a chuckle regarding his name, but once you see the man in action then the laughter will be instantly replaced by applause.

    Bender is a battling midfielder and he has a distinct likeness to Steven Gerrard. He is the twin brother of Sven Bender who plays for Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund and has so far spent the entirety of his career in Germany, but his playing-style is so suited to the Premier League that it cannot be long before a club puts in a serious bid for the 23-year-old. Could that be Liverpool?

    He would certainly add strength and fight into the Reds team but also provide an creativity options in the middle of the park, as you will see from the clip his forward-thinking attitude provides plenty of opportunities for his colleagues. He is an athletic player with bundles of energy and a craving for success, making him an attractive buy for any potential onlookers.

    If you do not share my excitement for this young man's aptitude, then watch the short video of his performance against FC Kaiserslautern last year.

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    Sunday
    Jan132013

    Top10 - Number 3: Christian Eriksen (Ajax)

    He may implement a lot more tricks and flicks into his game than Gerrard does, but Denmark international Christian Eriksen would more than capable of running the Liverpool midfield if he was called upon, despite still being only 20-years-old.

    He really is the driving force that every team needs. He is happy to run with the ball from deep, understands the movement around him which allows him to carve defences with his passing, and he is also more than capable of putting the ball in the back of the net.

    He has scored 4 goals and provided 5 assists in his 15 appearance this season for Dutch giants Ajax and is believed to be wanted property across Europe, so if he ends up in a Liverpool shirt then you would be to applaud them.

    It has been mentioned that a move to England is Eriksen's preferred move because of his admiration of the Premier League, but whether or not the Reds could compete with the financial side of things with the likes of the Manchester clubs or Chelsea is another matter.

    Eriksen has a long, exciting career to look forward to, and the Kop will be hoping that he enjoys it with them.

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    Sunday
    Jan132013

    Top10 - Number 4: Isco (Malaga)

    Another Spanish player now in Isco. The 20-year-old has a massive future in the game, have no questions about that, but how long will he stay representing La Liga side Malaga is surely only a matter of time.

    His performances has attracted him interest from all over Europe, and although he is a typical Chelsea player in that he is a small, nimble individual, he could just as easily slot into the Liverpool set up.

    Isco owes Malaga in the sense they took a punt on him as a teenager whilst he was learning his trade at Valencia, but if a proposed move for him offered a platform to showcase his talent in front of a larger audience then the temptation could be too much.

    As his reputations grows, so does his price-tag. He was last month named the Best Young player in Europe and given the prestigious 'Golden Boy' award as a prize, so the secret of Isco is now well and truly out of the bag.

    He has also been an integral part of Malaga's success in the season's Champions League. Not only did the Spanish side impress spectators whilst competing in the competition, they won their group without losing a single game. They now face Porto in the knock-out rounds whilst sitting 4th in the Spanish topflight, but will they be trying to compete without their creative hub?

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    Sunday
    Jan132013

    Top10 - Number 5: Tom Cleverley (Manchester United)

    It may not be a popular decision with the Liverpool fans, or the Manchester United fans for that matter, but Tom Cleverly appears to be on course to become a superstar. At still only 23-years-old he is fast making a name for himself as an energetic, goal-scoring midfielder and has a work-rate that encourages the rest of his teammates to strive towards those levels. These attributes, if you take the United crest from his chest, is exactly what the Anfield outfit are looking for as a long term replacement for their captain Steven Gerrard.

    Whilst not many can match the passing capabilities of Gerrard, Cleverly certainly has the awareness to come close. He is just as comfortable pinging a lengthy, diagonal ball as he is popping it a matter of inches. Another main factor of Cleverley's game is his ability to read the game. He always seems to be a few steps ahead of the opposition which, at his age, is a rare thing to come by.

    In my opinion the young England international would be perfect for the Liverpool midfield, probably more so than the United team, however, if Brendan Rodgers is interested in securing his services, a massive fee would have to be paid for the man Sir Alex considers as the future of the Manchester United midfield.

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    Sunday
    Jan132013

    Top10 - Number 6: Michu (Swansea)

    What needs to be said about Michu? When he arrived to the Premier League in the summer for £2m from Rayo Vallacano, no one could have envisaged the enormous impact that he has had on the league. Despite being a midfielder by trade, his 16 goals in the 26 games he has played for the Swans would suggest that he is more than comfortable in the more advanced role that Michael Laudrup is deploying him in.

    At 26-years-old he is 6 years Steven Gerrard's junior, and although he is currently in his first season in the English topflight, he has more than proved his worth to those who may be willing to try and lure him away from Wales.

    His determination to get back and defend may not match that of Gerrard's, but he is one of the most composed players that I have ever set my eyes upon, which seems to spread through the team whenever he is on the field.

    His performances have not gone unnoticed with his country's coach either. Vicente Del Bosque has promised Michu a place in the Spain side for their upcoming friendly with Uruguay in February, his first cap for his nation.

    I am sure that Liverpool fans would jump at the chance to see the Spaniard in a Reds shirt in the near future.

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    Sunday
    Jan132013

    Top10 - Number 7: Conor Coady (Liverpool)

    Ever since his entrance into the Liverpool you academy in 2005 he has been likened to Stevie G. He is as solid as they come, and at only 19-years-old that is bound to improve as his experience and body develop.

    A tough-tackling, hard-working, hungry individual who is not afraid to get in the thick of it- Conor Coady is sure to have a massive impact on the English game for years to come. He must be beaming that Brendan Rodgers is in charge of the club with his tendencies to put his faith in his younger squad members, and he would also provide the option of replacing Gerrard without spending a penny.

    Coady has also been a big part of the England set up. He has appeared on 35 occasions for the U16, U17, U18 and the U19 squad.

    With a midfield pairing of Shelvey,21, and Coady, 19, Liverpool fans certainly have a lot to look forward to.

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    Sunday
    Jan132013

    Top10 - Number 8: Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao)

    Herrera's name came to light after his impressive performances led Athletic Bilbao to the final of last year's Europa League final, only for his side to lose out to their Spanish counterparts Atletico Madrid. The 22-year-old has been on the the receiving end of some serious compliments ever since and is considered to be a target for both Liverpool and Manchester United in the current window. He grew up representing Real Zaragoza but returned to the place where he was born, Bilbao, in 2011 and signed a lengthy contract at the club.

    It is thought that an offer of £16m will be enough to secure a deal for the player, and he would most definitely be an ideal candidate for the long term suitor for Steven Gerrard. The way he strikes a ball resembles the Liverpool captain and so does the way he uses his awareness to protect the ball, with only experience the real difference between the two's game.

    If Herrera is to really knuckle-down and start promoting himself in European football he needs to make his mind up soon. Whether he joins Liverpool in the Premier League or he stays in his comfortable surroundings in Spain, that decision needs to be concrete in order for him to push on in the game. 

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    Sunday
    Jan132013

    Top10 - Number 9: Gary Gardner (Aston Villa)

    Although we have not been able to witness the kid's talent this season because of a serious cruciate ligament injury, he is expected to become a Steven Gerrard-style player when he returns. He certainly has the posture, and from what I have seen from him his natural passing and crossing qualification is just as impressive, but the willingness to put his body on the line for the cause of the club is what fans love to see, and he has that too!

    He is a box-to-box midfielder with a great range of characteristics, from shooting to tackling, from headingto leadership, and he has also admitted that Gerrard has been his role model whilst growing up.

    He once said: “I’m a central midfielder and I like to bomb on and score goals and it was Gerrard who was my favorite player when I was growing up,”

    Whether or not Gardner will have the same impact on the team that he did before he picked up his setback is unknown, but with the potential the 20-year-old has it seems more than likely.

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    Sunday
    Jan132013

    Top10 - Number10: Marco Rojas (Melbourne)

    Described as the Kiwi Messi by the Austrailian press, Marco Rojas' creativity and ability to unlock a defence could put his name forward to fill the boots of Stevie G. Okay, he is not exactly in the same mould as Gerrard, but they share similar characteristics.

    He can play in wider areas than Gerrard is used to, but the way they can both rifle a shot into the top corner of the net is breathtaking, and although he does not share the same physical presence as Gerrard because of his miniature 5ft6 frame, he is willing to scrap and work hard for his team.

    His technical skills are more impressive than most and the speed at which he does them is enough to make you gasp - the Melbourne Victory midfielder is certainly going to be making a move to Europe in the near future.

    A refreshing thing about Rojas is his determination to succeed. According to his manager he turns up to training every single day looking to better himself, learn how to improve as an individual and also strive to carry his team forwards.

    Take note of his second goal in this clip. 

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