The summer departures of centre-backs Kolo Toure, Martin
Skrtel and Andre Wisdom (on loan at Red Bull Salzburg), plus full-backs Jose
Enrique, Brad Smith and Jon Flanagan (the Scouse Cafu is struggling for game
time on loan at Burnley) left a hole in the Liverpool squad for a versatile,
experienced defender. Klavan could fill that hole. The signing of the man with
a name like a Viking screamed “League Cup player”, but he impressed in
pre-season and in the early games, suggesting he could be more than that.
The Estonia captain, who turned 31 on 30 October, can deputise at left-back and notched up more than 100 appearances in nearly four years at Augsburg in the Bundesliga. But is he better than those he replaced? Skrtel is playing in the Europa League with Fenerbahce, and Toure was playing in the Champions League with Celtic. Liverpool fans might wonder whether keeping one of those players, with their extensive Premier League experience, might have been a better option.
Yet Klopp’s knowledge of the German league led him to turn to Klavan – wages were a factor, too – and he may turn out to be a reliable third choice in the mode of Kyrgiakos. The big Greek with a giant pony-tail made the role of enthusiastic defensive back-up all his own after signing in 2009. He soon got to grips with Merseyside traditions too, including a red card in the derby in 2010. Klavan could achieve instant cult hero status by doing the same.
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